Buzz
The idea of being able to drive or take a train from Alaska to Russia or London to New York is a fascinating concept. While this might seem far-fetched, it could become reality in the future thanks to several proposals for bridges and underwater tunnels that would link continents. However, this doesn't mean we can't already cross continents by land. For example, Turkey spans both Europe and Asia and has three bridges and a tunnel facilitating travel between the two regions.
Below are ten more proposed bridges and tunnels that aim to connect continents, each representing a unique geographical connection.
10. Saudi-Egypt Causeway – Linking Asia and Africa
The Saudi-Egypt Causeway is a proposed bridge that would connect Egypt and Saudi Arabia. This ambitious project would feature both road and rail networks, spanning the Red Sea. While the exact location is still uncertain, some suggest it will be constructed between Nabq, Egypt, and Ras Alsheikh Hamid, Saudi Arabia, the closest points between the two nations, with a detour near the Saudi island of Tiran.
During a state visit to Egypt in 2013, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdel Aziz hinted at plans to build the bridge. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi announced that the bridge would be named after the king, the 'King Salman bin Abdel Aziz Bridge.' While the bridge, estimated to cost between $3–4 billion, is driven more by political motives than practical necessity, Saudi Arabia aims to demonstrate its strong ties with Egypt, especially in the face of regional tensions with Iran. Beyond the bridge, Saudi Arabia has pledged to fund Egypt’s oil requirements for five years.
9. Bridge of the Horns – Connecting Asia and Africa
The Bridge of the Horns is a proposed project that aims to connect Djibouti, located in the Horn of Africa next to Somalia, with Yemen. The bridge will feature six lanes for vehicles and a railroad. It was proposed by Tarek Bin Laden Construction, a company owned by the half-brother of the notorious Al-Qaeda leader, Osama bin Laden.
The 28.5-kilometer (17.7 mi) bridge, initially projected to cost $70 billion, has faced criticism for its high price tag and its location in an earthquake-prone region. In 2008, Djibouti’s then-prime minister Dileita Mohamed Dileita rejected any involvement by his government, claiming the project had ‘fallen from the sky.’
Despite the criticism, preliminary works for the bridge have already been completed, and construction is underway. The project will be funded by the Noor City Development Corporation of Dubai, which will also create two cities called Al Noor (City of Light) on either side of the bridge. Additionally, plans include building an airport and a comprehensive road network connecting Yemen’s Al Noor to Dubai in the UAE. This would allow travel by road from Africa to Dubai. The Bridge of the Horns is expected to be completed in 2020, with a projected cost of $20 billion.
8. Bering Strait Tunnel – Connecting Asia and North America
There have been multiple proposals to connect Siberia with Alaska, with the first idea dating back to the 1890s when engineer Joseph Strauss suggested a railroad linking Russia and Alaska. Tsar Nicholas II of Russia endorsed a similar plan in 1907, but it was abandoned due to the outbreak of World War I. The concept resurfaced in 2011, this time with a proposal for a 105-kilometer (65 mi) underground tunnel, known as the Bering Strait Tunnel.
The Bering Strait Tunnel would consist of three tunnels: one for travel from Russia to Alaska, another for the reverse route, and a third for emergency use, with access points linking to the main tunnels. Each of the two primary tunnels would feature two railways—one for high-speed trains and the other for slower ones—as well as one or two lanes for vehicles. Additionally, pipelines for water, gas, oil, and fiber-optic cables would be included. The estimated cost of the project is $35 billion, with a construction timeline of 12 to 15 years, assuming approval.
7. Sicily-Tunisia Tunnel – Connecting Europe and Africa
The proposed Sicily-Tunisia tunnel would connect mainland Italy with Tunisia via Sicily. The plan includes building a 3.3-kilometer (2.1 mi) bridge linking Reggio Calabria on the Italian mainland with Messina in Sicily. From there, a network of five underground tunnels would connect Sicily to Tunisia. Four of these tunnels would accommodate traffic in opposite directions, while the fifth would be reserved for emergencies.
Researchers from the Italian Agency for Alternative Energies have recommended that both Italy and Tunisia construct four artificial islands between their coasts, using the excavated rock from the tunnel project. The estimated cost for this ambitious project is $28 billion.
6. China-Russia-Canada-America Line – Connecting Asia and North America
The China-Russia-Canada-America line is a proposed railway that would stretch from China, passing through Russia, Alaska, and Canada, ultimately reaching the mainland United States. A 201-kilometer (125 mi) underwater tunnel would connect Russia to Alaska through the Bering Strait. China asserts that the construction of this tunnel will be feasible, as it already has the necessary technology, which will also be used for the Fujian-Taiwan underwater railway linking China and Taiwan.
The plans for this ambitious railway were disclosed by Wang Mengshu of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. However, no official confirmations from any government have been made, and it is unclear whether China has consulted Russia, Canada, and the United States about the project. If the railway is constructed, travel from China to the United States would take just two days.
5. Transatlantic Tunnel – Connecting Europe and North America
The Transatlantic Tunnel is a proposed underwater railway that would connect New York with London, Paris, or Brussels. This concept was introduced by Ernst Frankel and the late Frank Davidson, both of whom had worked on the Channel Tunnel (also known as the 'Chunnel') linking England and France. The tunnel would be situated beneath the Atlantic Ocean and anchored to the seabed with spring-loaded cables. The exact depth at which the tunnel would be placed will depend on future changes in the North Atlantic's temperature and the resulting iceberg presence.
If completed, the tunnel would feature ultra-fast magnetic levitation trains that would travel between London and New York in just four hours. However, the project has faced significant criticism due to its staggering cost—estimated at nearly $200 billion—and the challenges of constructing a 5,600-kilometer (3,500 mi) tunnel across the ocean. As per Discovery Channel's Extreme Engineering, the Transatlantic Tunnel is unlikely to materialize before 2099 due to the technological and financial hurdles that need to be overcome.
4. Darien Gap Highway – Linking North and South America
Guinness World Records recognizes the Pan-American Highway as the world’s longest continuous road network, extending from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, to Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. However, this highway isn’t a single road but a series of interconnected highways spanning several North and South American countries. Despite this vast expanse, it’s impossible to drive from North to South America due to the impassable Darien Gap, a dense jungle separating Panama and Colombia.
Previous efforts to construct a road through the Darien Gap have been halted by resistance from indigenous groups and environmentalists, who argue that building the highway would devastate the rainforest. A U.S.-backed highway plan in 1974 was blocked, and another attempt in 1992 was scrapped.
Today, travelers circumvent the gap by taking a boat or a flight. In 1959, however, an expedition successfully crossed the gap in a Land Rover. Nowadays, such a journey is almost impossible due to the presence of criminals and drug traffickers that inhabit the treacherous jungle. One suggestion to overcome this obstacle while still connecting the continents is to construct an underwater tunnel between Panama and Colombia.
3. Trans Global Highway – A World-Spanning Network
The Trans Global Highway is an ambitious proposal to connect all continents through a single road network. Introduced by Frank Didik, this plan involves the integration of existing highways, the creation of new roads, and the construction of tunnels wherever necessary. If realized, this would make it possible to circumnavigate the globe by road.
In addition to the main road, the Trans Global Highway would feature pipelines carrying oil, gas, water, and communication cables. Didik argues that the only major obstacle to the realization of this project is the ongoing hostility between neighboring nations, which might prevent them from maintaining road links to their adversaries.
2. Intercontinental Peace Bridge – Asia and North America
The Intercontinental Peace Bridge is an ambitious proposal for an 88-kilometer-long (55 mi) bridge connecting Siberia to Alaska. Suggested by renowned structural engineer T.Y. Lin during the Cold War, the bridge would span the Bering Strait. Lin took his idea seriously, even presenting President Ronald Reagan with a detailed 16-page pamphlet outlining his vision in 1986, which gained both supporters and detractors internationally.
Lin revisited his idea in 1994, updating his plans to include a network of pipelines to transport oil and gas from Russia to North America. This revision followed Russia's growing interest in the untapped oil reserves in Siberia. The Intercontinental Peace Bridge wasn't Lin’s only bold idea to connect continents; he also proposed a bridge over the Strait of Gibraltar to link Spain and Morocco.
1. Gibraltar Tunnel – Europe and Africa
The idea of an underwater tunnel through the Strait of Gibraltar to connect Europe and Africa has been under consideration since 1930. Back then, Spanish engineers proposed a 32-kilometer (20 mi) tunnel stretching from Spain to North Africa. Today, Spain and Morocco are collaborating on building what will be known as the Gibraltar Tunnel.
The closest points between the two countries are just 14 kilometers (9 mi) apart, and it's even possible to see one coastline from the other. However, the tunnel will not follow this narrow path due to the hard rock beneath. Instead, it will run from Cape Malabata in Morocco to Punta Paloma in Spain, covering a distance of 28 kilometers (17 mi), with the tunnel itself spanning 40 kilometers (25 mi) due to necessary bends.
The project is expected to cost between €6.5 and 13 billion, and both Spain and Morocco have applied for funding from the European Union. Originally, the two nations considered building a bridge across the Strait but abandoned the idea due to concerns about its ability to withstand the region's harsh winds and powerful water currents.
