Megaprojects Global WSC 2025

Match

How much do you remember?

• Big Dig

• Channel Tunnel

• California High-Speed Rail

• Sejong City

• Hambantota Port

Boston, tunnels, highway, park, overrun

UK–France, undersea, Eurostar, marvel

SF–LA, rail, delays, budget, emissions

Korea, smart, decentralization, eco

Sri Lanka, China, debt-trap, lease, BRI

• Boston, tunnels, highway, park, overrun

• UK–France, undersea, Eurostar, marvel

• SF–LA, rail, delays, budget, emissions

• Korea, smart, decentralization, eco

• Sri Lanka, China, debt-trap, lease, BRI

Match

Match the following

• NEOM

• Khazar Islands

• Three Gorges Dam

• HZMB

• New Eurasia Land Bridge

Saudi, future, Line, AI, renewable

Azerbaijan, islands, skyscraper, stalled

China, hydro, Yangtze, flood

bridge, logistics, tunnels

China–Europe, rail, inland, BRI, customs

• Saudi, future, Line, AI, renewable

• Azerbaijan, islands, skyscraper, stalled

• China, hydro, Yangtze, flood

• bridge, logistics, tunnels

• China–Europe, rail, inland, BRI, customs

Fill in the Blank

The final cost of the Big Dig project was approximately ___ billion dollars.

Multiple Choice

What was the primary goal of the Big Dig in Boston?

• Build the tallest building in Massachusetts

• Connect Boston with New York via rail

• Replace the elevated I-93 with tunnels

• Expand Boston Harbor for cargo

• Relocate downtown to new land

Multiple Choice

When was the Big Dig officially completed?

• 1998

• 2002

• 2007

• 2012

• 2015

Multiple Choice

How many miles of tunnels were constructed during the Big Dig?

• 3.1 miles

• 5.0 miles

• 7.5 miles

• 9.2 miles

• 11.0 miles

Multiple Choice

What was one major success of the Big Dig?

• Stopped flooding from Boston Harbor

• Tripled car speeds across the city

• Reduced central artery crashes by over 60%

• Prevented building collapses in winter

• Fully eliminated city air pollution

Multiple Choice

Which tragic event occurred during the Big Dig’s operation?

• Subway train derailment in 2004

• Flooding of the tunnels in 2003

• Ceiling panel collapse killed a person

• Earthquake damaged the Silver Line

• Sinkhole swallowed a construction crane

Multiple Choice

What eventually replaced the elevated highway?

• Logan Airport runways

• A downtown shopping mall

• The Rose Kennedy Greenway

• A solar farm and transit station

• An underground reservoir system

Multiple Choice

Why is the Big Dig considered both a success and a failure?

• It was fast but unpopular

• It looked nice but flooded often

• It was useful but cost too much

• It was cheap but collapsed quickly

• It opened early but didn't function

Multiple Choice

How much did the Big Dig cost in today's terms?

• Around $9.8 billion

• About $14.6 billion

• Nearly $18.9 billion

• Approximately $21.5 billion

• Over $25.0 billion

Multiple Choice

What unique workforce fact is linked to the Big Dig?

• It used no international labor

• It had 1,000 engineers on-site

• Over 5,000 workers were active at peak

• Most workers were volunteers

• It was staffed only during weekends

Open Ended

Identify two major successes and two major problems associated with the Big Dig project.

Fill in the Blank

The Channel Tunnel connects the United Kingdom and ___ through an undersea rail tunnel.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following were included in the Channel Tunnel project?

• Two rail tunnels and one service tunnel

• A new airport terminal

• A highway bridge

• A subway line

Multiple Choice

What was the primary goal of the Channel Tunnel project?

• Connect London to Rome through rail

• Replace highway ferries between Spain and France

• Link the UK and France via undersea rail

• Create a shipping lane between Scotland and France

• Build a bridge between England and Belgium

Multiple Choice

What was the total length of the Channel Tunnel?

• 22 miles

• 28 miles

• 31 miles

• 36 miles

• 40 miles

Multiple Choice

When was the Channel Tunnel officially opened?

• 1988

• 1990

• 1992

• 1994

• 1996

Multiple Choice

How many tunnels were constructed as part of the Chunnel system?

• One passenger tunnel only

• Two tunnels and one bridge

• Two rail tunnels and one service tunnel

• Four freight tunnels only

• One tunnel with five emergency exits

Multiple Choice

What is one major success of the Channel Tunnel?

• Prevented flooding from the English Channel

• Reduced London–Paris travel time to ~2 hrs 15 mins

• Cut down fuel imports to the UK by half

• Eliminated need for airport customs

• Supported only freight but not passengers

Multiple Choice

What was a significant problem during the Chunnel’s early years?

• Roof collapse under the Channel

• Electrical failures due to seawater

• Over £900 million in first-year losses

• Total shutdown due to protests

• No trains were ever completed

Multiple Choice

Which issue delayed the Chunnel after it opened?

• Earthquake beneath the seabed

• A 1996 fire and later maintenance closures

• Political protests in Germany

• Bridge collapse on the UK side

• Airplane collision above the tunnel

Multiple Choice

How deep is the Channel Tunnel on average?

• 10 meters under the seabed

• 25 meters under sea level

• 40 meters below the seabed

• 60 meters below water level

• 80 meters below the English coast

Multiple Choice

What was the original planned cost of the Channel Tunnel?

• £3.5 billion

• £4.2 billion

• £5.5 billion

• £6.9 billion

• £8.0 billion

Multiple Choice

What fun fact shows the scale of the Chunnel’s construction?

• It used only French workers

• It spans five national borders

• Over 13,000 workers built it from both sides

• It carries ships as well as trains

• It runs under both land and open ocean

Multiple Choice

What fun fact shows the scale of the Chunnel’s construction?

• It used only French workers

• It spans five national borders

• Over 13,000 workers built it from both sides

• It carries ships as well as trains

• It runs under both land and open ocean

Multiple Choice

What was one of the main goals of the California High-Speed Rail (CHSR) project?

• To create a fast, green rail link between major California cities

• To build the tallest building in California

• To replace all highways with railways

• To connect California to Nevada

Multiple Select

Which of the following are listed as problems faced by the California High-Speed Rail project?

• Massive cost overruns

• Delays of over a decade

• Strong federal support

• No private investors have committed funding yet

Multiple Choice

What was the original goal of California’s high-speed rail project?

• Build a rail link to Canada

• Create a loop around the Pacific coast

• Connect San Francisco to Los Angeles in under 3 hours

• Replace buses in the Central Valley

• Build a freight-only rail corridor

Multiple Choice

When did voters approve the CHSR project?

• 2002

• 2005

• 2008

• 2010

• 2012

Multiple Choice

How fast are CHSR trains expected to travel?

• Around 100 mph

• Up to 150 mph

• Over 200 mph

• Near 300 mph

• Limited to 90 mph

Multiple Choice

What is the planned length of the full CHSR system?

• 500 miles

• 650 miles

• 800 miles

• 920 miles

• 1,000 miles

Multiple Choice

What is one success of the CHSR project so far?

• Fastest operating trains in the US

• Completed all tunnels ahead of schedule

• Over 10,000 construction jobs created

• Trains are running in the Central Valley

• It has connected to Mexico’s rail system

Multiple Choice

What major problem has the CHSR project faced?

• Voter opposition to clean energy

• Fires along the rail line

• No trains are operational yet

• Massive bridge collapse

• Frequent train derailments

Multiple Choice

How much has the estimated cost grown since the start?

• From $10B to $30B

• From $22B to $50B

• From $33B to up to $128B

• From $40B to $100B

• From $19B to $55B

Multiple Choice

Why do some critics call it “a train to nowhere”?

• It connects only to airports

• It runs through desert military zones

• It’s only building a rural section first

• It was built on old mining routes

• It skips all major tourist cities

Multiple Choice

What inspired California’s high-speed rail system?

• Swiss underground cable cars

• Germany’s hyperloop design

• Japan’s Shinkansen and Europe’s TGV

• Brazil’s rainforest rail network

• China’s maglev city train

Multiple Choice

What is one of the key features included in the development of Sejong City?

• Relocation of 12 major government ministries

• Construction of a new international airport

• Building the tallest skyscraper in Korea

• Creation of a major seaport

Multiple Select

Which of the following are successes attributed to Sejong City?

• Helped reduce population and traffic pressure on Seoul

• Created a high-quality, livable urban environment

• Became a center for eco-friendly design and innovation

• All ministries were relocated from Seoul

Multiple Choice

What was the main goal of building Sejong City?

• Move the capital closer to China

• Replace Seoul as Korea’s economic hub

• Reduce overcrowding in Seoul and decentralize government

• Create a resort city in the mountains

• Host future Olympic and sports events

Multiple Choice

When did the relocation of major government functions to Sejong begin?

• 2007

• 2010

• 2012

• 2015

• 2018

Multiple Choice

How far is Sejong City from Seoul?

• About 40 km

• Roughly 70 km

• Around 90 km

• Nearly 120 km

• Over 150 km

Multiple Choice

What does Sejong City plan to accommodate by 2030?

• 200,000 residents

• 350,000 residents

• Over 500,000 residents

• 750,000 visitors

• A million refugees

Multiple Choice

What is one success of Sejong City’s development?

• Largest zoo and aquariums in Asia

• Creation of smart eco-friendly infrastructure

• Biggest shopping center in South Korea

• Direct rail link to Japan

• Exporting its city model abroad

Multiple Choice

What is a major criticism of Sejong City?

• It is located in a flood zone

• It has no schools or universities

• It lacks strong cultural and commercial life

• It uses outdated transportation technology

• It was never completed or opened

Multiple Choice

What is a notable landmark or attraction in Sejong?

• Jeju Island Lighthouse

• Mount Seorak Skywalk

• Sejong National Arboretum

• Incheon Science Village

• Daejeon Castle Theme Park

Multiple Choice

After whom was Sejong City named?

• Korea’s first president

• A famous ancient architect

• King Sejong the Great, who created Hangul

• The mayor who proposed it

• A general from the independence war

Multiple Select

Which of the following were problems faced by the Hambantota Port project?

• Severe underperformance in early years

• High debt burden

• Local resistance and controversy

• Immediate commercial success

Multiple Choice

What was the main goal of the Hambantota Port project?

• Create a military base for Sri Lanka

• Replace Colombo with a tourist harbor

• Build a second international shipping hub

• Export Sri Lankan agriculture to Europe

• Establish a new luxury fishing zone

Multiple Choice

How was most of the Hambantota Port financed?

• U.S. development aid

• World Bank donations

• Loans from China’s Exim Bank

• United Nations investment

• Indian infrastructure firms

Multiple Choice

When was the first phase of Hambantota Port completed?

• 2005

• 2008

• 2010

• 2012

• 2014

Multiple Choice

What led to China leasing the port for 99 years?

• Sri Lanka offered it for free

• The port was never used

• Sri Lanka could not repay its debt

• China built a military airstrip nearby

• A regional war forced the handover

Multiple Choice

What other infrastructure was built near the port?

• Tourist amusement park

• International airport and highways

• Dam and irrigation projects

• Oil pipeline to India

• Floating luxury hotel

Multiple Choice

What is a major criticism of Hambantota Port’s development?

• No railroads were built to support it

• It reduced national tourism by 30%

• It is considered “debt-trap diplomacy”

• It failed due to typhoon destruction

• It blocked whale migration paths

Multiple Choice

How many ships did the port handle in 2012?

• Just 12 ships

• Only 24 ships

• A total of 34 ships

• Over 100 ships

• Nearly 500 ships

Multiple Choice

What nickname was given to the nearby airport?

• “Asia’s Forgotten Terminal”

• “The World’s Emptiest International Airport”

• “Runway to Nowhere”

• “Deserted Sky Harbor”

• “The Ghost Flight Hub”

Multiple Choice

What larger initiative is Hambantota Port now part of?

• India’s Golden Quadrilateral

• ASEAN Maritime Alliance

• China’s Belt and Road Initiative

• United Nations Trade Corridor

• South Asian Port Pact

Multiple Choice

What role did the port play in 2022?

• Launched Sri Lanka’s space program

• Hosted a G20 economic summit

• Fueled protests over the financial crisis

• Became a tourist cruise center

• Delivered vaccines during the pandemic

Multiple Choice

What is the main purpose of NEOM in Saudi Arabia’s national plan?

• Expand oil drilling across the Red Sea

• Relocate the capital city to the desert

• Diversify the economy beyond oil

• Build new roads connecting to the UAE

• Train soldiers in high-tech warfare

Multiple Choice

What does “NEOM” stand for?

• New East of Mecca

• Neo Modernism

• New Opportunity Market

• New Future (Neo + Mustaqbal)

• Next Energy-Oriented Model

Multiple Choice

What is “The Line” in NEOM?

• A smart power grid linking to Europe

• A 170-km linear car-free city

• A surveillance tower along the coast

• A pipeline system for fresh water

• A network of luxury shopping tunnels

Multiple Choice

What is “Oxagon” in NEOM’s plan?

• A religious district in Mecca

• A new national bank

• A floating industrial city

• A triangular mega-mall

• A fortress near the Red Sea

Multiple Choice

What future technology is notably planned for NEOM?

• Driverless rail on snow

• Robotic police enforcers

• Fully AI-managed hospitals

• Flying taxis and AI systems

• Cloud-seeding rain networks

Multiple Choice

How much might NEOM cost at full development?

• Around $300 billion

• About $500 billion

• Up to $1.5 to $2 trillion

• Roughly $700 million

• Just under $250 billion

Multiple Choice

What games will NEOM’s Trojena region host?

• FIFA World Cup qualifiers

• Formula 1 Grand Prix

• Winter Olympics

• 2029 Asian Winter Games

• Chess World Championship

Multiple Choice

How is NEOM powered?

• Diesel and oil from northern fields

• A nuclear reactor in the desert

• 100% clean solar and wind energy

• Coal imported from India

• Hydrogen pipelines to Europe

Multiple Choice

What is a fun fact about The Line’s design?

• Its floors rotate every hour

• It is wider than the Great Wall

• It will float above ground level

• It is a mirrored skyscraper 500m tall

• It was shaped by volcanic lava flows

Multiple Choice

What was one of the main goals of the Khazar Islands project in Azerbaijan?

• To build an artificial archipelago of 41 islands in the Caspian Sea

• To create a new oil drilling platform

• To establish a wildlife reserve

• To build a new airport for Baku

Multiple Select

Which of the following were included in the Khazar Islands project plan?

• A Formula 1 circuit

• Over 150 schools

• A Venice-style canal system

• Azerbaijan Tower over 1,000 meters tall

Multiple Choice

What was the main goal of the Khazar Islands project?

• Build a floating prison system

• Create an oil refinery archipelago

• Develop a luxury island megacity

• Connect Azerbaijan to Iran via road

• Construct fishing villages on barges

Multiple Choice

How many artificial islands were planned in the Khazar project?

• 25 islands

• 31 islands

• 38 islands

• 41 islands

• 50 islands

Multiple Choice

What iconic skyscraper was planned for Khazar Islands?

• Baku Vision Tower

• Turkmenistan Spire

• Azerbaijan Tower

• Kaspiy Grand Spire

• Caspian Peace Needle

Multiple Choice

How tall was Azerbaijan Tower expected to be?

• 820 meters

• 950 meters

• 1,050 meters

• 1,250 meters

• 1,400 meters

Multiple Choice

What caused the collapse of Khazar Islands development?

• International sanctions

• Civil war in Baku

• Oil price crash and funding loss

• Drought and land erosion

• Discovery of protected wildlife

Multiple Choice

Who led the Khazar Islands project?

• Azerbaijan’s President

• Avesta Group of Companies

• Ministry of Tourism

• Caspian Regional Bank

• Eurasian Trade Federation

Multiple Choice

What major facility was not included in the plan?

• Formula 1 racetrack

• Parks and shopping centers

• Earthquake-resistant buildings

• National museum of Azerbaijan

• Venice-style canal system

Multiple Choice

What environmental risk was the design supposed to withstand?

• Volcano eruption

• Sea ice build-up

• Sea level rise and major earthquakes

• Toxic algae blooms

• Dust storms and wildfires

Multiple Choice

How is the project described today?

• A triumph of Eastern urbanism

• A thriving seaport for the region

• A ghost megaproject with no progress

• An illegal offshore tax haven

• A climate refugee relocation center

Multiple Choice

What remains visible from the Khazar Islands plan?

• A functioning yacht port

• Satellite images of dredging work

• Submarine access tunnels

• Five completed hospital towers

• A beach resort housing 50,000

Fill in the Blank

The Three Gorges Dam was built to control flooding on the ___ River.

Multiple Choice

What is one major environmental concern associated with the Three Gorges Dam?

• Biodiversity loss and river ecosystem changes

• Increased coal usage

• Air pollution from factories

• Desertification of nearby land

Multiple Choice

What was one of the Three Gorges Dam’s primary goals?

• Supply water to North Korea

• Divert the Yangtze for farming

• Control flooding on the Yangtze River

• Create a reservoir for whale migration

• Connect inland cities to coastal airports

Multiple Choice

When did major construction on the dam begin?

• 1986

• 1990

• 1994

• 1998

• 2002

Multiple Choice

When did the dam become fully operational?

• 2000

• 2006

• 2012

• 2015

• 2020

Multiple Choice

What is the dam’s electricity-generating capacity?

• 10,000 megawatts

• 15,600 megawatts

• 18,300 megawatts

• 22,500 megawatts

• 27,000 megawatts

Multiple Choice

What is a major success of the Three Gorges Dam?

• It filters plastic from ocean water

• It reduced China’s use of natural gas

• It improved navigation on the Yangtze

• It eliminated earthquakes in the region

• It powered the entire coastline

Multiple Choice

How many people were displaced by the project?

• Over 500,000

• Roughly 800,000

• More than 1.4 million

• Close to 2.3 million

• Just under 3 million

Multiple Choice

What major environmental problem did the dam cause?

• Increased greenhouse gas emissions

• Global sea level rise

• Landslides and sediment pollution

• Mass extinction of forest animals

• Formation of large sinkholes

Multiple Choice

What unusual physical effect did the dam have?

• Increased China’s rainfall

• Changed the magnetic field

• Slightly slowed Earth’s rotation

• Tilted the Yangtze basin westward

• Caused underwater volcanoes to erupt

Multiple Choice

What was flooded due to the reservoir’s creation?

• Sacred temples and rice paddies

• Dozens of mining towns

• Hundreds of cultural and archaeological sites

• High-speed train tunnels

• China’s largest wind farm

Multiple Choice

What structure helps ships pass the dam?

• Magnetic rail tunnel

• Floating lock system

• Massive ship lift and locks

• Submersible cargo drone

• Tidal-powered escalator ramp

Multiple Choice

What was the main goal of the HZMB project?

• Connect Singapore to mainland China

• Build a scenic ferry route to Macau

• Link three cities of the Pearl River Delta

• Provide military access across the South China Sea

• Export construction materials to Hong Kong

Multiple Choice

How long is the HZMB system in total?

• 33 kilometers

• 42 kilometers

• 50 kilometers

• 55 kilometers

• 60 kilometers

Multiple Choice

When did the bridge officially open to the public?

• 2016

• February 2018

• October 24, 2018

• March 2019

• December 2019

Multiple Choice

What key feature allows ships to pass through the bridge route?

• Elevated cable bridge

• Foldable drawbridge section

• Detour bridge above ferries

• 6.7-km undersea tunnel

• Ship-lift overpass system

Multiple Choice

What success is associated with the HZMB?

• Eliminated traffic between cities

• Reduced travel time to 30–45 minutes

• Provided fishing zones along the viaduct

• Bypassed all immigration stations

• Functioned without any tolls

Multiple Choice

What caused construction delays during the project?

• Weather and safety investigations

• Labor strikes by foreign workers

• Tsunami damage and landslides

• Collapse of artificial islands

• Disagreements between Macau and Taiwan

Multiple Choice

What raised labor concerns during the project?

• Widespread unpaid overtime

• Temporary shutdowns due to heat

• Multiple worker deaths and injuries

• Robotic automation eliminated jobs

• Border conflicts near construction sites

Multiple Choice

Why did early usage of the bridge remain low?

• It charged luxury tolls

• No cars were allowed until 2021

• Strict permit rules and limited access

• Only trucks and buses could cross

• Bridges closed during daytime hours

Multiple Choice

What driving change must users adjust to when crossing?

• Switch from toll-free to toll zones

• Use only electric vehicles

• Switch from left- to right-hand traffic

• Obey two different sets of speed limits

• Detach license plates at borders

Multiple Choice

How long is the HZMB expected to operate?

• 60 years

• 80 years

• 100 years

• 120 years

• Indefinitely, under renewable charter

Multiple Choice

What is the main goal of the New Eurasia Land Bridge?

• Move workers from China to Europe

• Create a luxury tourism railway

• Build a high-speed passenger train

• Develop an overland China-Europe freight route

• Connect Moscow and Tokyo by tunnel

Multiple Choice

When did the project expand significantly?

• 1998

• 2001

• 2005

• 2013

• 2017

Multiple Choice

What initiative helped expand the New Eurasia Land Bridge?

• ASEAN Trade Corridor

• EU Central Rail Pact

• Belt and Road Initiative

• Caspian Economic Route

• Trans-Siberian Rail League

Multiple Choice

How long is the longest freight route on the network?

• 8,400 km

• 10,600 km

• 11,800 km

• Over 13,000 km

• Nearly 15,000 km

Multiple Choice

What types of goods are transported on the rail lines?

• Fossil fuels and lumber

• Raw steel and concrete

• Electronics, cars, and perishables

• Food and animal feed

• Paper products and aircraft parts

Multiple Choice

What is a major success of the project?

• Became the fastest passenger train in Asia

• Eliminated all tariffs between China and Europe

• Turned inland cities into logistics hubs

• Reduced piracy on ocean shipping lanes

• Built the longest underwater tunnel

Multiple Choice

What issue complicates cross-border movement?

• Weather and frozen rivers

• Rail gauge differences and customs

• Lack of water stations for trains

• Political disputes over taxes

• Weak train engines for high altitudes

Multiple Choice

What is a criticism of China’s role in the land bridge?

• It bans all local rail companies

• It replaced all workers with machines

• It increases dependency on Chinese finance

• It forced EU members into construction

• It restricted cultural exchange on trains

Multiple Choice

What symbolic celebration occurs along the route?

• Dragon Parade and Fireworks Day

• “China-Europe Express” festivals

• Treaty of the Tracks Anniversary

• Eurasia Unity National Day

• One Belt Parade of Steel

Multiple Choice

What strategic benefit does the rail provide?

• Avoids the Panama Canal entirely

• Access to Arctic Circle trade hubs

• Alternative to maritime shipping routes

• Direct flights between capitals

• Deep-sea ports in Central Asia