List of most expensive U.S. public works projects

Below is a list of so-called megaprojects that are among the most expensive in U.S. history.

Highways

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The following list includes projects to build new highways or improve existing ones, including roadways, bridges, and tunnels. It includes only projects that are underway or completed. Additionally, projects with multiple independent segments (e.g., I-69 Indiana-Texas Extension, Trans-Texas Corridor) are not included, though individual segments may or may not make the list. Costs shown below exclude financing costs.

Date Price (nominal) Reference Year Price (ref. year) Price

(2024 Inflation)

Project
1956–present $425 billion 2006 $425 billion $663 billion Interstate Highway System
1992–2006 $14.6 billion[1][2] 1982 $8.08 billion $26.3 billion Big Dig, Boston, Massachusetts
2000–2022 $1.4 billion [3] 2022 I-5 - SR 16 Tacoma/Pierce County HOV Program, Tacoma, Washington (Interstate 5 in Washington)
2002–2013 $6.5 billion[4] $8.77 billion San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge East Span Replacement, San Francisco/Oakland, California
1988–2002 $5.0 billion[5] Mon–Fayette Expressway, southwest Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia
2012–2019 $4.25 billion Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement tunnel, Seattle, Washington
2005–2020 (est.) $4.1 billion (est.)[6] Ohio River Bridges Project, Louisville, Kentucky, and southern Indiana
2020-2025 (est.) $3.9 billion (est.)[7] Hampton Roads Bridge–Tunnel, Hampton Roads, Virginia
2001–2007 $3.6 billion[8] Central Texas Turnpike, area around Austin, Texas
2003–2008 $1.5 billion 2001 $2.8 billion (2008)[9][10] $3.1 billion I-10 Katy Freeway Expansion (Interstate 10 in Texas)
2007–2011 $2.57 billion[11] Intercounty Connector, Montgomery County, Maryland
1997–2029 $1.66 billion 2009 $2.2 billion $3.27 billion North Spokane Corridor, Spokane County, Washington
1999–2008 $2.5 billion[12] Woodrow Wilson Bridge Replacement, Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia, and southern Maryland
1959–1964 $320 million 1964 $2.44 billion Verrazano-Narrows Bridge
2015–2022 $2.3 billion[13] (est.) I-4 Ultimate corridor reconstruction, Orlando, Florida
2008–2018 $1.8 billion[14] (est.) Interstate 69 Extension SIU #3, Evansville to Indianapolis, Indiana
2010–2024 $1.6 billion[15] (est.) Wekiva Parkway, Orlando, Florida
2001–2016 $1.4 billion[16] (est.) I-95 New Haven Harbor Corridor Reconstruction, New Haven, Connecticut
1991–2003 $1.2 billion[17] E-470, Denver, Colorado
1933–2007 $37 million 1937 $37 million $809 million Golden Gate Bridge

Rail

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Date Price (nominal) Reference Year Price (ref. year) Price (2024 Inflation) Project Length
2015–2029 $64.2 billion (est.) 2018 $64.2 billion (est.) $86.7 billion (est.) California High-Speed Rail (Phase 1) 520 miles (837 km)
2006–2025 $4 billion (est.) 2006 $12.4 billion (est.) $11 billion (est.) Skyline 20 miles (32 km)
1964–1976 $1.588 billion 1976[18] $1.586 billion $8.76 billion Bay Area Rapid Transit (Initial System) 109 miles (175 km)
1863–1869 $124,548,691[19] 1873 $124,548,691 $3.27 billion First transcontinental railroad 1,868 miles (3,006 km)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Central Artery/Tunnel Project Website Archived 2007-10-12 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "Boston's 'Big Dig' finally opens to public - US news - NBC News". NBC News. December 21, 2003.
  3. ^ "I-5 - SR 16 Tacoma/Pierce County HOV Program | WSDOT".
  4. ^ Jaffe, Eric (October 13, 2015). "From $250 Million to $6.5 Billion: The Bay Bridge Cost Overrun". CityLab. Archived from the original on September 28, 2017. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
  5. ^ Turnpike panel says high costs imperil Mon-Fayette, Southern Beltway projects, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, April 27, 2007
  6. ^ Louisville Bridges Cost Now $4.1 Billion, The Urbanophile, October 6, 2007
  7. ^ HRBT Expansion website
  8. ^ Federal Highway Administration, Central Texas Turnpike Fact Sheet
  9. ^ "So what is the capacity of the Katy Freeway these days?".
  10. ^ "FHWA Office of Innovative Program Delivery: Project Profiles". Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  11. ^ Maryland Department of Transportation ICC Website
  12. ^ Woodrow Wilson Bridge Replacement Website Archived 2007-10-15 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ Tracy, Dan (February 17, 2015). "I-4 Ultimate overhaul gets ceremonial start". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  14. ^ "INDOT I-69: I-69".
  15. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions". Wekiva Parkway. Florida Department of Transportation & Central Florida Expressway Authority. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  16. ^ COG panel OK with $498M spike in Q bridge cost, New Haven Register, August 9, 2007[permanent dead link]
  17. ^ "Final leg of E-470 nears completion". Denver Business Journal.
  18. ^ Webber, Melvin (1976). "The BART experience: what have we learned?" (PDF): 93. Retrieved May 31, 2016. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)[permanent dead link]
  19. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions about the Transcontinental Railroad".
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