Megaproject Mentality
16 March 2007Recently Brian Yanity published Part One and Part Two of a two-part article titled Alaska’s Megaproject Mentality examining what he calls “megaproject pathology.†Specifically he looked at this phenomenon as it pertained to projects in Alaska.
In his first article Brian looks at how a project is defined, something he defines as “a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product or service, or the proposal of something to be done, scheme, or a special unit of work, distinct from ongoing operational work.†Plans that exceed the normal scale of a project are called megaprojects. These projects are defined as costing more then a billion dollars.
A megaproject is a construction feat on the same scale as the Hoover Dam, Panama Canal, or even such things as the tunnel below the English Channel. These projects, as in the case of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, can be valuable and useful methods of serving a community need. Brian explains though, that when those constructing the megaproject lose sight of the purpose of the project, great economic and ecological harm can occur.
During the latter stages of his article Brian examines one such project, the Knik Arm Bridge Project. He looks at how feasible this project is and how it has evolved. The project has been introduced in one form or another since the 1950s as an improvement that would not only help the economy of Anchorage, but would bring fame. “The ‘world-wide recognition which would accompany the construction of this unique and monumental project would certainly be valuable to the State of Alaska,’ said a 1972 study prepared for what was then called the state Department of Highways.†According to what was found in a recent official estimate, this project would not increase the jobs or income of anchorage in any significant way.
In part 2 of his article, Brian examines many different failed megaprojects, explaining how these different concepts lost their focus and turned out to do more harm then good. An example of these projects are:
The Rampart Dam
This project was proposed in the early 1950s. It was to dam the Yukon River and Rampart Canyon. This dam would have created power excess that by far surpassed anything that Alaskans might have needed. “If it had been built, the Rampart Dam at the time would have become the world’s largest hydroelectric plant, with about 5,000 megawatts (MW) of electric generation capacity. Just to give some perspective on how much electric power that is, the present-day electric generation capacity entire state of Alaska is just over 2,000 MW.â€
North America Water and Power Alliance
This megaproject was created to send fresh water from Alaska to the lower 48. This project would call for dams both in Alaska and Canada to power and supply the pipe. Talk over the project continued throughout the 1960s to the 1980s as the massive project was scaled further and further down until it was eventually abandoned. This project would have devastated the salmon in Alaska, and the water by the time it reached the lower 48 would possibly have been toxic due to water-mineral chemical changes during transit.
In the end Bryan shows how important it is not to get caught up in the megaproject pathology and to make sure before such a project is constructed that all of the environmental and financial issues are considered.
John Bryant
ACPP Intern