Meanwhile in China...

Doltanian

The Chinese have just opened a 1,242 kilometre section of expressway opened to traffic through the Gobi Desert in Northern China. It runs from Bayannur (Linhe) to Kumul (Hami). It is most likely the largest single motorway opening in World history.

The new section includes;

• 930 kilometers in Inner Mongolia
• 134 kilometers in Gansu
• 178 kilometers in Xinjiang

The expressway runs through extremely remote regions, with approximately 1,100 kilometers through almost unpopulated desert. The only town of significance on the 1,242 kilometer trek is Ejin. Most of the expressway runs through an area where no roads existed before. The expressway runs close to the Mongolia border.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-07/15/c_136446396.htm

Most definitely a great bunch of lads

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96qZ-t2hwz4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv3J2zZCmFc

jacksie66

This post has been deleted.

Sam Russell

jacksie66 wrote: »

And we can't even get a few kms from Limerick to Cork built..

Now you cannot equate over 1,000 Km of desert road where no decent road exists to 100 Km of road in Munster where no decent roads exist.

Perhaps you can.

BillyBobBS

Only took them 5 years. Amazing.

road_high

Vastly different planning, ecological, environmental, land ownership legislation and laws.

Riskymove

is there no wind in China? Bit odd no sand at all on road

GhostyMcGhost

No online motorway services?

Nasty to breakdown or run out of petrol on that road

AugustusMinimus

M17. We’re still waiting for photos of the build.

BelfastVanMan

AugustusMinimus wrote: »

M17. We’re still waiting for photos of the build.

He'd need a spare battery pack on his drone..

Pelvis

Only 2 lanes? Pfft....


:pac:

emeldc

Pelvis wrote: »

Only 2 lanes? Pfft....


:pac:

Loads of room to add a third over a bank holiday weekend should it struggle with the volume of traffic

TnxM17

GhostyMcGhost wrote: »

No online motorway services?

Nasty to breakdown or run out of petrol on that road

I hear Pat McDonagh has put in planning with Gobi Co Co for a SuperMacs at junction 四

joujoujou

road_high wrote: »

Vastly different planning, ecological, environmental, land ownership legislation and laws.

...and quality (open to correction though).

JupiterKid

Astounding. I don’t think the USA even achieved such a long section opening during their interstate construction heyday in the 1960s.

But it looks like it will be well overcapacity!:D

Wonder what the speed limit is?


I'd imagine you'll have hotels, petrol stations, restaurants all opening along the route in the immediate future.

bigar

A shame you cannot drive with European driving licences in China. I would love to do some of their motorways.

B-D-P--

If I dig in the sand more sand just replaces it, these guys,,, They are on a whole new level!

Doltanian

bigar wrote: »

A shame you cannot drive with European driving licences in China. I would love to do some of their motorways.

Apparently you just buy a driving permit when you arrive which allows you to rent a car there.

Doltanian

China is near completing the Hong Kong - Zhuhai - Macau Bridge and tunnel project costing $12bn

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/peoplesdaily/article-4997026/Incredible-footage-shows-world-s-longest-sea-bridge.html

It is bridging a distance greater than the Channel tunnel but in much shallower waters.

Could such a grand scheme ever be used to turn the M50 into a full circle for e.g.?

shaunr68

Pelvis wrote: »

Only 2 lanes? Pfft....


:pac:

Just my luck to be stuck behind a tractor for 1,242 kilometres...

EDIT: Oh, two in each direction, so much for my poor attempt at humour!

Donegal Storm

Doltanian wrote: »

China is near completing the Hong Kong - Zhuhai - Macau Bridge and tunnel project costing $12bn

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/peoplesdaily/article-4997026/Incredible-footage-shows-world-s-longest-sea-bridge.html

It is bridging a distance greater than the Channel tunnel but in much shallower waters.

Could such a grand scheme ever be used to turn the M50 into a full circle for e.g.?

If you think paving over Sandymount and Dublin Bay is a realistic option then sure! Thankfully we have higher environmental standards here.

There's been some truly crazy projects in China in the past decade that I find absolutely fascinating and amazing as an engineer but forcefully removing entire villages and totally destroying scenic areas are things I'm glad aren't a feature in our projects

plodder

Donegal Storm wrote: »

If you think paving over Sandymount and Dublin Bay is a realistic option then sure! Thankfully we have higher environmental standards here.

There's been some truly crazy projects in China in the past decade that I find absolutely fascinating and amazing as an engineer but forcefully removing entire villages and totally destroying scenic areas are things I'm glad aren't a feature in our projects

China's political leaders have always been engineers or scientists. And not just the actual leader, but the entire government/leadership class. I've seen one estimate that about 90% of the current regime have engineering or science degrees, which tends to promote a certain way of thinking.

Sam Russell

plodder wrote: »

China's political leaders have always been engineers or scientists. And not just the actual leader, but the entire government/leadership class. I've seen one estimate that about 90% of the current regime have engineering or science degrees, which tends to promote a certain way of thinking.

Whereas ours are either teachers, publicans, or lawyers - not an engineer or scientist in sight.

server down

Sam Russell wrote: »

Whereas ours are either teachers, publicans, or lawyers - not an engineer or scientist in sight.

And the US are all lawyers and professional politicians. I’d say the Chinese are at a huge advantage.

Doltanian

Sam Russell wrote: »

Whereas ours are either teachers, publicans, or lawyers - not an engineer or scientist in sight.

Most of ours are the failed sons and daughters of crony political hacks who wouldn't survive in the real world with the party behind them. Corruption, waste and inefficiency is the order of the day in this country.

wordofwarning

plodder wrote: »

China's political leaders have always been engineers or scientists. And not just the actual leader, but the entire government/leadership class. I've seen one estimate that about 90% of the current regime have engineering or science degrees, which tends to promote a certain way of thinking.

The way of thinking at the moment, is the Chinese economy has slowly been going down the drain for the last decade, lets build literally anything to prop it up. Since the global financial crisis in 2008, China has been pouring money into the economy to keep the boom booming.

China is building bridges, motorways, cities etc all that they don't need. It is entirely being fuelled by debt. There is a fear if the Chinese economy is not booming, that Chinese will want a proper democracy. China's local authorities have a debt to GDP of 47%, which is mostly infastructure related.

server down

wordofwarning wrote: »

The way of thinking at the moment, is the Chinese economy has slowly been going down the drain for the last decade, lets build literally anything to prop it up. Since the global financial crisis in 2008, China has been pouring money into the economy to keep the boom booming.

China is building bridges, motorways, cities etc all that they don't need. It is entirely being fuelled by debt. There is a fear if the Chinese economy is not booming, that Chinese will want a proper democracy. China's local authorities have a debt to GDP of 47%, which is mostly infastructure related.

Who is to say they don’t need them? As far as I can see trend growth there is 7% a year.

JohnC.

They've got entire cities lying empty.

Doltanian

China will face a major demographic crisis in the future over the one child policy but their debt levels are far far lower than most developed western countries, if you build it they will come and you can never have too much good quality proper infrastructure.

bigar

Doltanian wrote: »

Apparently you just buy a driving permit when you arrive which allows you to rent a car there.

Yes, I did get a provisional licence in Beijing Airport last time but unfortunately the rental car companies were not willing to give me a car to self drive. I have heard of people who apparently managed to do it but I heard many more who have the same experience as me.

blanch152

Donegal Storm wrote: »

If you think paving over Sandymount and Dublin Bay is a realistic option then sure! Thankfully we have higher environmental standards here.

There's been some truly crazy projects in China in the past decade that I find absolutely fascinating and amazing as an engineer but forcefully removing entire villages and totally destroying scenic areas are things I'm glad aren't a feature in our projects

plodder wrote: »

China's political leaders have always been engineers or scientists. And not just the actual leader, but the entire government/leadership class. I've seen one estimate that about 90% of the current regime have engineering or science degrees, which tends to promote a certain way of thinking.

The other side of that is when they do decide to change direction, they have the ability to make large changes quickly. The world depends on China and India adopting renewable energy technology.


http://www.worldwatch.org/node/5497

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/05/china-renewables-energy-climate-change-pollution-environment/

http://www.wired.co.uk/article/china-climate-change-policy-solar-production

marno21

blanch152 wrote: »

The other side of that is when they do decide to change direction, they have the ability to make large changes quickly. The world depends on China and India adopting renewable energy technology.


http://www.worldwatch.org/node/5497

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/05/china-renewables-energy-climate-change-pollution-environment/

http://www.wired.co.uk/article/china-climate-change-policy-solar-production

I remember 10 years ago worry about the amount of coal fired power plants China were building and how difficult it would be to curb CO2 emissions globally because of it.

And then America decided to elect Mr. Coal

Gerrup Outta Dat!

If that road was in Ireland there'd be a speed limit of 60 km/h and there'd be hoggers sitting in the "fast" lane.