Bin Laden to build 'The Bridge of the Century'
This just in, from ArabianBusiness.com:A member of the Bin Laden family is looking to build a 17-mile bridge linking Yemen and Djibouti on the Horn of Africa in a bid to connect the Middle East and Africa.
According to a British newspaper report today, the bridge - yo be known as 'the bridge of the century' - would be the longest in the world, costing £10 billion ($20.6 billion) and boasting highway and rail links.
Osama Bin Laden's half-brother, Sheikh Tarek Mohammed Bin Laden, has outlined his plans to both Yemen and Djibouti, winning support and offers of land from both presidents.
The bridge proposes to link Asia and Africa and would boost trade from both sides of the Red Sea.
Sheikh Tarek, who is head of the Saudi-based construction conglomerate Bid Laden Group, is also looking to build a 'luxury city' on the Djibouti coast which would create 100,000 jobs and stretch over 375 square miles, the Sunday Times said.
The proposed bridge - which would take nine years to construct - would have a centre span of 3.1 miles and would allow up to 100,000 cars and 50,000 train passengers to cross per day.
Comments
Honestly, I'm wondering how a working bridge can be built and maintained in the pirate capitol of the world- bab al mandab.
Also totally questioning these vaulted figures. A luxury city in Djibouti? A 100,000 cars a day between Djibouti and Yemen? Maybe one day, but for the foreseeable future, these are two of the poorest nations on Earth. Being realistic, I don't see traffic near that high for a long time to come, nor do I see how building a luxury city for the idle rich is the most just thing to do.
I love new giant building projects, and think it would be way cool to see a giant bridge there in bab al mandab. I just don't see it as economical or practical.