Most expensive projects in the world
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The world has seen many mega-projects, but not all have turned out as planned.
Let's take a look at some projects that have changed the lives of people and some that failed to get off the ground.
NOTE: Courtesy, Business Insider
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Photographs: Jumana El Heloueh/Reuters
Most expensive projects in the world
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Interstate Highway System
Country: The United States
Inflation-adjusted cost: $459 billion
Cost in 2006: $425 billion
Global rank: 1
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Photographs: Eric Thayer/Reuters
Most expensive projects in the world
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International Space Station
Country: Not applicable
Cost to date: $150 billion
Global rank: 2
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Image: A nighttime view of the Earth from the space station.
Photographs: Nasa/Handout/Reuters
Most expensive projects in the world
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King Abdullah Economic City
Country: Saudi Arabia
Inflation-adjusted cost: $95 billion
Cost in 2005: $86 billion
Global rank: 3
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Photographs: Susan Baaghil/Reuters
Most expensive projects in the world
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California High-Speed Rail
Country: The United States
Estimated cost: $98.5 billion
Global rank: 4
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Photographs: Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters
Most expensive projects in the world
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Dubailand
Country: The United Arab Emirates
Inflation-adjusted cost: $76 billion
Cost in 2003: $64 billion
Global rank: 5
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Image: A view of Dubai's Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world.
Photographs: Mosab Omar/Reuters
Most expensive projects in the world
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Songdo International Business District
Country: South Korea
Estimated cost: $40 billion
Global rank: 6
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Image: Incheon Free Economic Zone/Handout/Reuters
Most expensive projects in the world
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Kansai International Airport
Country: Japan
Inflation-adjusted cost: $29 billion
Cost in 1994: $20 billion
Global rank: 7
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Photographs: Kimimasa Mayama/Reuters
Most expensive projects in the world
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Hong Kong International Airport
Country: Hong Kong
Inflation-adjusted cost: $27 billion
Cost in 1998: $20 billion
Global rank: 8
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Photographs: Bobby Yip/Reuters
Most expensive projects in the world
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Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway
Country: China
Inflation-adjusted cost: $26.1 billion
Cost in 2008: $25.8 billion
Global rank: 9
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Photographs: Jason Lee/Reuters
Most expensive projects in the world
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Big Dig
Country: The United States
Inflation-adjusted cost: $23.1 billion
Cost in 2007: $22 billion
Global rank: 10
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Photographs: Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters
Most expensive projects in the world
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Toei Oedo line
Country: Japan
Inflation-adjusted cost: $23 billion
Cost in 2000: $18.4 billion
Global rank: 11
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Photographs: Kimimasa Mayama/Reuters
Most expensive projects in the world
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The Airbus A380
Country: France
Inflation-adjusted cost: $23 billion
Cost in 2005: $22 billion
Global rank: 12
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Photographs: Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters
Most expensive projects in the world
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Channel Tunnel
Country: The United Kingdom
Inflation-adjusted cost: $22.4 billion
Cost in 1994: $15.4 billion
Global rank: 13
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Photographs: Pascal Rossignol/Reuters
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