Tunnel between Russia and US may become a most expensive project — expert

Lead

A proposed tunnel connecting Russia's Chukotka region with Alaska under the Bering Strait could become one of the most expensive infrastructure projects in world history, according to experts cited by TASS. The project, which has been framed as a symbol of restored relations between Moscow and Washington, has also sparked questions about its economic feasibility, given the remote location and harsh conditions of the Far North.

Coverage Comparison

Two reports from TASS offer overlapping but distinct perspectives. One article highlights the symbolic significance of the tunnel while expressing skepticism about its economic rationale. The other focuses on the technical and logistical challenges, suggesting the project could rank among the most costly in history. Together, they depict a project of great geopolitical ambition but with practical hurdles that remain unresolved.

Key Claims

Nadezhda Zamyatina, director of the Center for Arctic and Northern Urban Studies at the National Research University Higher School of Economics, told TASS that the construction of a tunnel under the Bering Strait may be one of the most expensive infrastructure projects in world history. The region is far from major economic centers, and the harsh conditions of the North will increase costs.

"Building a tunnel in remote areas far from major economic centers and in the harsh conditions of the North, apparently, will be one of the most expensive projects in history," she said. Zamyatina noted that the tunnel is technically feasible and would be only about 1.5 times longer than the Channel Tunnel. However, the main challenges lie in delivering materials and creating supporting infrastructure in Chukotka.

Food and fuel are brought to the region under the Northern Supplies program, and transporting large volumes of metal structures and concrete would require complex logistics, she explained. Additionally, transport approaches to the tunnel would need to be built. "Both its construction, and its operation will be times more expensive than those in developed areas. Even more expensive than BAM (the Baikal-Amur Mainline)," she said.

The availability of a cargo base to ensure the project's payback remains a key issue. Zamyatina noted that the tunnel lacks a clear cargo base.

Separately, Alexander Shokhin, head of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, stated in a commentary on Vesti that the tunnel is "likely more of a symbol than an economically justified project." He questioned the possibility of recouping the investment within 20 years, given the absence of significant traffic volume. "After all, for a tunnel to be economically and financially viable, even in the long run, there has to be something to transport back and forth," he said, adding that there needs to be a reciprocal flow of goods between Russia, Alaska, and Canada.

Shokhin also stressed the need to build railways, roads, and other infrastructure to support the tunnel.

Both experts referenced Kirill Dmitriev, Russia's Special Presidential Representative for Investment and Economic Cooperation with Foreign Countries and head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, who has been a proponent of the project. Dmitriev expressed hope that the design of the tunnel would be completed by the end of 2026 and suggested that China could join the project.

The tunnel, often dubbed the "Putin-Trump Tunnel," has drawn attention as a potential symbol of restored relations between Russia and the US. Yet the economic and logistical challenges remain formidable, with experts calling into question whether the project can be justified by the available freight volumes.