Crossing the Bering Strait to open up the northern treasure chest

This presentation is on behalf of the Interhemispheric Bering Strait Tunnel and Railway Group, a non-profit organization incorporated in Washington D.C. in 1991. Members include institutions, companies and individuals from the United States, Russia and elsewhere. The goal is to complete the Bering Strait project, first mentioned in the mid 19th century, which will renew and sustain the creation of primary, real wealth on this planet. The paper describes the engineering concept of the project which will establish a major all weather, year-round transport and commerce artery in the Northern Hemisphere, connecting several major economic groups on three continents by the shortest possible route, using modern high speed railroad. It is believed that railroad technology is the most efficient and environmentally friendly mode of long distance overland transport known to Man. The ‘Age of Railroad’ is yet to come. In addition, the environmental/economic and social/political aspects of this major civil engineering undertaking are briefly addressed. The recent completion of major tunnel projects under sea straits in Europe (Eurotunnel) and Japan (Seikan Tunnel) were justified through existing transport markets and perhaps through political/economic reasons (Seikan Tunnel). In the Bering Strait, the tunnel will connect two large continents, but more importantly it will open large remote areas of Canada, Alaska and Siberia with tremendous natural resources currently out of reach for efficient development. Using the latest technology, development of these resources can be environmentally sound. Through the worldwide renewal in economic activity, living conditions along the railroad’s path will be sustained and improved in addition to boosting employment in many parts of the world.