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A much shorter tunnel, but with two new underground train stations, is being built under Stockholm, Sweden.[1] It is about 1/6 of the Swiss budget (about $2 billion). It will be completed on budget and slightly ahead of time this year.[2] So it can be done.

[1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockholm_City_Line

[2] in Swedish. http://framtidensinfrastruktur.se/artikel/snart-fardigbyggt-...




But most often, even in Sweden, it is not. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallands%C3%A5s_Tunnel


Indeed projects in Sweden run över budget too. I was saying "it can be done" not that it is always successful. Other recent successes:

Norra länken 2.6 Bn SEK under budget (part of circle road around Stockholm). [1][2] Arlandabanan (train service to Stockholm AirPort), on time and on budget. [3]

[1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norra_länken

[2] https://sv.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norra_länken

[3] https://www.arlandaexpress.com/default.aspx?page=88&id=34


You can't compare those two projects.


Clearly you can... Let's see:

Underground?: Yes, Yes

Budget: $2bn, $12bn (or whatever)

On-time?: Yes, Yes

Is a tunnel?: No, Yes

...


> Clearly you can... Let's see:

One involves carving a 150km tunnel through a granite massif which is the Alps in a scale that never before was done in history of mankind, the other involves drilling a tunnel through alluvium and sedimentary deposits pretty much like any medium-scale tunneling work.


You could apply this checklist to a sewage system also.


Wouldn't you wany a sewage system to be on time?




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