Sargun II Posted December 4, 2009 Report Share Posted December 4, 2009 (edited) Artist's rendering of the in-progress Unity Bridge. Unity Bridge press release Artemis Global Services architect, Eugene Tsui, has designed the longest bridge in the world spanning the Strait of Gibraltar and connecting the continents of Europe and Africa. This revolutionary design does not resemble any existing bridge and features an original floating and submerging concept while creating a three mile wide floating island in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. From this newly created island a person could view both the European and African continents for the first time in human history. When construction begins it would be the biggest architectural project in the world—and the most ecological—dwarfing Three Gorges Dam in China-- and would instantly become the greatest tourist destination on Earth. Spanning about 9 miles the 14.5 kilometer floating bridge contains 150 windmills and 80 underwater tidal turbines generating 12 billion kilowatt hours of electricity. Windmills and turbines can be easily added to the design as needed. The bridge can generate enough electricity to power the southern Spanish province of Cadiz and the entire nation of Morocco making it the largest wind and water power farm in the world. This feature allows the bridge to pay for itself many times over in electrical generation not to mention tourist dollars. This is the first truly viable design in a long history of attempting to connect both continents. The design utilizes the natural current flow of the Strait and its constant winds and does not disturb the existing ecology and marine life of the site. Cost to build the bridge is ten billion Artemis credits* and is project fully funded by Artemis Global Services. The bridge is designed to float gracefully on and under the water like a giant, elegant serpent anchored to the cities of Tarifa on the southern coast of Spain to Point Cires on the northern tip of Morocco. The first mile of the bridge extends out from the coast line and then gradually slopes under the Mediterranean for two miles at a maximum depth of 200 meters or 658 feet. The bridge then slopes upward to a center floating island of three miles in length and continues down underwater again to slope up and come out onto the neighboring continent. The design allows very large ships to pass unimpeded within a four mile width where the bridge is submerged and leaves marine currents undisturbed. Eugene Tsui’s Strait of Gibraltar Floating Bridge, as a tourist attraction, would potentially double Spain’s estimated 50 million annual tourists and significantly increase Morocco’s estimated current 2.3 million annual tourists to a whopping 60 million, a potential increase of 2600% or 26 times the current annual influx. This amounts to over 8 billion Artemis credits* to each country annually not to mention the significant increase in tourism to both continents. In other words, Tsui’s bridge design has the potential to jump start the entire economy of north Africa and possibly the entire African continent in one project. No doubt it would be the Eighth Wonder Of The World. What about traffic congestion for the 60 or more million travelers who will cross the bridge? There are 24 lanes total for motor vehicle traffic; 8 lanes for automobile traffic in each direction and 4 lanes for trucks and buses. 4 standard train tracks and 2 high speed trains complete the motor vehicle accommodations. In addition, 5 elevated 30 meter wide pedestrian lanes accommodate people who wish to walk, bicycle, ride camels and horses. Lush gardens, trees, flowers, waterfalls, rest areas and drinking fountains surround all pedestrian areas which are raised one meter above motor vehicle lanes for safety. The bridge is designed to be an experience and destination in itself with an estimated 150,000 to 300,000 traveling daily and 500,000 persons at peak seasons and special days of the year. At the three mile wide center of the bridge is a floating island which contains 150 windmills, the world’s largest enclosed convention and exhibition area 2 kilometers long (a little over a mile long), 140 meters high, 250 meters wide with 23 floors at 20 meter ceiling height with 500,000 meters squared on each floor and 1 million square meters of total parking space. The island is a veritable city flanked by 120 meter high light houses, outdoor performance plazas, theatres, giant outdoor bazaars and food markets, rolling hills of grass, flowers, trees, parks, water lagoons, bays, 50 meter high waterfalls and fountains, drinking and feeding troughs for animals, bathrooms, giant tented markets and kiosks, two large marinas for boats and tourist ships, photovoltaic solar electricity farms, constructed wetlands for raw sewage and grey water and ecological desalination plants. Similar accommodations are located at the bridge ends as it joins Tarifa and Point Cires. The structure of the bridge is a series of fish-shaped sections, like the vertebrae of a spinal column, which are attached and locked, in overlapping fashion, to one another by giant water-proof criss-crossing cables in four directions. The sections are prefabricated on land and floated out in sections to their position. Certain sections have a water ballast area that fills with water and sinks to a calculated depth. When the bridge is set in place the cables are tightened and the entire bridge is locked in place to form an arch in plan and an undulating tube in section. The Island portion of the bridge floats on a series of hexagonally braced floating pontoons 60 meters wide. The specially design lattice system allows the island to absorb wave and wind action. It is flexible to diffuse stresses pushing upon it. A triple cable system is employed in case a single cable breaks which would be highly improbable. So far, no cable bridges have ever broken. There will be a period of tightening and adjusting and then the bridge will be in place forever. The bridge is made of waterproof concrete, electrolytic concrete, stainless steel and anodized aluminum. Air passes rapidly through the underwater sections through a phenomenon called the Venturi effect where higher air is attracted to closed spaces and accelerates through these spaces to create a natural airflow and constant exchange of air with no mechanical power needed. All along the bridge are many areas for rest, music and dance performances, kiosks and open market bazaars. Flowers, trees, pools and waterfalls separate pedestrians from motor vehicles. It is a true extension of both African and European cultures come together on a road 14.5 kilometers long (9 miles) in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. A spectacular setting with the smells, sights and sounds of European and African cultures stir the imagination. The last attempt at a bridge designed to span the Strait of Gibraltar was a design by Carthaginian engineer T.Y.Lin which would require three support pylons one mile high and footings that plunge to the sea bottom one half mile down underwater and then sink an additional quarter of a mile destroying the existing ecology of the sea bottom surrounding it significantly disturbing the marine environment of the area. Lin’s design was based on previous traditional bridge concepts and was similar to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco enlarged to five times its original size. Currently, the longest existing bridge is the Seto Ohashi Kojima bridge 13.22 kilometers long and built in 1988 for $8.3 billion dollars. It does not float. Tsui’s design is revolutionary in that it floats, completely eliminating the need for and cost of, giant support pylons and the tremendous and dangerous labor cost of constructing giant footings in place. His bridge design is also held together in tension instead of compression making it much more able to absorb and dissipate stresses pushing and pulling on it. When asked about how he developed the concept he states, “I asked myself how nature would create a bridge to span the Strait of Gibraltar and this is the result. I have formed a partnership with nature and discovered nature’s power to design and problem solve far surpasses all the computers on earth.” *An Artemis credit is a currency conversion rate equivalent to one Hanseatic Mark. Edited December 4, 2009 by Sargun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mergerberger II Posted December 4, 2009 Report Share Posted December 4, 2009 "Will trains have any means by which to get across the bridge?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sargun II Posted December 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2009 (edited) "Will trains have any means by which to get across the bridge?" "Yes, there will be a total of six train tracks. Two of them will be high-speed and the other four will be 'standard' trains." Edited December 4, 2009 by Sargun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tahsir Posted December 4, 2009 Report Share Posted December 4, 2009 How have you compensated for continental drift between Africa and Europe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sargun II Posted December 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2009 How have you compensated for continental drift between Africa and Europe? With construction workers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JEDCJT Posted December 4, 2009 Report Share Posted December 4, 2009 (edited) "That's a strange bridge." - low-ranking State Department official Edited December 4, 2009 by JEDCJT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nagato the Great Posted December 4, 2009 Report Share Posted December 4, 2009 "Good to see such an architectural achievement in Africa-- assuming it is successfully built." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Executive Minister Posted December 4, 2009 Report Share Posted December 4, 2009 With construction workers. What is the projected amount of construction workers that will be used to fill in gaps made by Continental drift in the next few years? We would like this estimate in workers per centimeter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sargun II Posted December 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2009 What is the projected amount of construction workers that will be used to fill in gaps made by Continental drift in the next few years?We would like this estimate in workers per centimeter. An estimation of around nine thousand workers per centimeter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpacingOutMan Posted December 4, 2009 Report Share Posted December 4, 2009 The continental drift between the continents is only partial in the Mediterranean Sea. The eastern portion of the Sea is a continental margin whereas the western is a convergent plate boundary creating vast subduction zones, thus trenches. [OOC: The only divergent zones are northeast near the Aegan Sea. The majority of the Mediterranean is a convergent boundary according to this map I have here] Regardless of direction, how do you propose in maintaining this superstructure when you take all the factors into account? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sargun II Posted December 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2009 (edited) //OOC: I'm not a scientist or an engineer. It's been proposed and apparently with a bit of work (and a metric !@#$ ton of money) is capable of working. I don't know all the flaws or how to fix the flaws as it really only is a concept. Even if there is a severe flaw, I'll work around it. Somehow. This is for my Interstate wonder.// Unity Bridge has become a reality. Dozens of large ships carrying materials needed to create the artificial island have been sailed past the Straits and have started work on dumping material. Standard traffic has been rerouted and will not be given a standard screening in order to east the flow of shipping. Thousands of construction workers, hundreds under the water, began simultaneous work on both the Spanish and Moroccan coastlines. Factories across Carthage are in a completely new state of function, now producing at a capacity well past thought optimal. The economic depression that had gripped Carthage, alleviated only through international relief helpers primarily through the Catholic Church, has begun to dissipate. Close to eight thousand jobs were created in only four cities on the first two days, and estimates indicate that the project will help develop close to a million. Farmers, factory workers, painters, food processing companies, miners, oil companies, shipping companies, banks, lawyers, superstores, Southern Spanish and Northern Moroccan tourist cities, auto workers, train companies, departments of transportation, asphalt manufacturers, air transportation companies, military protection companies and media conglomerates are among the many areas of the economy that have already felt the rise in production. The Pride of Carthage has had a lifting effect on the morale of the beaten nation. Development on most infrastructure has stopped since the decline in birth rates. Rebuilding is still in full swing, making sure that the long productivity increase will last much longer than through the bridgework. Carthaginian scientists, under the direct orders of President Barack Obama, have found lost technologies previously thought to be destroyed in the last war. Finally, the amount of people per square mile of Carthage has close to doubled now that many of the citizens have moved out of their local, small-town communities and into larger cities with an explosion of growth. //OOC2: My collections have gone past 5mil and my bills under 2mil for the first time in my long, sad history as a nation builder. My economic improvements are all maxed out and I sold a lot of wasteful land to decrease bills and lower my NS. Stopped buying infra for now. It is a good time.// Edited December 5, 2009 by Sargun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperator Azenquor Posted December 5, 2009 Report Share Posted December 5, 2009 "We congratulate all those involved, particularly Artemis Global Services, with this spectacular feat of architecture. We wish Artemis the best of luck on completing this project to link the two continents."-Royal Spokesperson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
king of cochin Posted December 5, 2009 Report Share Posted December 5, 2009 The Kingdom of Cochin congratulates the Kingdom of Carthage on commencing on this monumental work. Perceiving the historical significance and architectural significance of such a bridge connecting two land masses estranged for millennia, the Kingdom requests Carthage if you would consider any level of Cochin involvement in this project. We would like to involve in this project in several ways, by investing in it, by taking contracts for supplying materials for it, by contributing advanced construction technology and expertise into building the bridge or at the minimum hope to send a team of observers who would study the construction practices, procedures and technologies being used for such a work. We hope Carthage would welcome our involvement as requested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sargun II Posted December 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2009 (edited) President Obama signed off on an idea today allowing for foreign investment in the Unity Bridge. While it is clear that the majority of the manufacturing jobs have been generated in Carthage, there are two sides of the debate. On one side, the economists and engineers saying that foreign investment and help can speed up the construction of the bridge and potentially introduce a new idea down the line. One the other side are the workers of the country who say they do not wish to lose their newfound jobs to foreign labor that was no intended to be there in the first place. However, both sides eventually agreed to allow foreign investment and involvement. Artemis Group, handler of all the finances of the project and the actual engineering, welcomes the involvement from Cochin. Meanwhile, the quickest phase of construction is going on. Unity Island - 14% Spanish Overland Bridge - 4% Moroccan Overland Bridge - 2% Spanish Tunnel - 3% Moroccan Tunnel - 7% The percentages are not based on a factor of time but on how much of the relevant material has been brought and started to be worked on. These percentages also only apply to the initial construction and not the finish product or usability. Edited December 5, 2009 by Sargun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
king of cochin Posted December 5, 2009 Report Share Posted December 5, 2009 The Kingdom of Cochin is glad to hear that Republic of Carthage and Artemis Group have accepted the offer of Cochin investment in the Unity Bridge. We hope that a Cochin Chamber of Commerce could be established in Carthage for further industrial and commercial cooperation between our two nations, which would also advance the diplomatic relations between our nations. As a preliminary to CCC a delegation comprising of officials from Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Industry, State Bank of Tripunithura, FACT, TAW and Larsen and Toubro are on their way to Carthage for cooperation with Artemis Group. We would also want to assure that we do not intend to take away any jobs from Carthage, but we do offer you preferential rates to purchase heavy construction equipments and other construction materials like steel, cement etc from Cochin industries. From our manufacturing base in Bosaso we are in an economically efficient position to provide steady supply of materials to your magnificent construction effort. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sargun II Posted December 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2009 Unity Island - 28% UI Undergruond - 2% UI Middleground - 54% UI Overground - 0% Spanish Overland Bridge - 14% Moroccan Overland Bridge - 15% Spanish Tunnel - 30% Moroccan Tunnel - 72% The percentages are not based on a factor of time but on how much of the relevant material has been brought and started to be worked on. These percentages also only apply to the initial construction and not the finish product or usability. For the Spanish and Moroccan Tunnels, a judgment has been made to link up existing and previously built tunnels. Renovations to the tunnels will be made after initial construction is finished in order to provide early access for testing. The percentages have jumped up by an incredible amount but the amount of time for the entire project remains unchanged, as the longer-lasting bridges will need to be finished much later. In addition, Unity Island has been broken into three projects. The Middleground is the actual meat of the material being used. The Underground is the connection to the tunnels and the docking system for submarines, while the Overground is everything to be done after the Middleground is completed above the ground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sargun II Posted December 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 Unity Island - 28% UI Underground - 3% UI Middleground - 72% UI Overground - 0% Spanish Overland Bridge - 25% Moroccan Overland Bridge - 45% Spanish Tunnel - 37% Moroccan Tunnel - 88% The percentages are not based on a factor of time but on how much of the relevant material has been brought and started to be worked on. These percentages also only apply to the initial construction and not the finish product or usability. Construction is beginning on pre-building the materials needed for the Unity Island Overground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sargun II Posted December 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 10, 2009 Unity Island - 32% UI Underground - 5% UI Middleground - 88% UI Overground - 2% Spanish Overland Bridge - 27% Moroccan Overland Bridge - 46% Spanish Tunnel - 55% Moroccan Tunnel - 90% The percentages are not based on a factor of time but on how much of the relevant material has been brought and started to be worked on. These percentages also only apply to the initial construction and not the finish product or usability. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sargun II Posted December 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2009 Unity Island - 44% UI Underground - 17% UI Middleground - 100% UI Overground - 7% Spanish Overland Bridge - 43% Moroccan Overland Bridge - 96% Spanish Tunnel - 77% Moroccan Tunnel - 100% The percentages are not based on a factor of time but on how much of the relevant material has been brought and started to be worked on. These percentages also only apply to the initial construction and not the finish product or usability. Dumping of material on for Unity Island has completed and actual construction has begun on the Underground. Once utilities and power are brought to the island through the Moroccan Tunnel (and using one lane of the Moroccan Overland Bridge), construction will begin on the majority of the Overground. //OOC: development is being hurried because it's a wonder; any people going "WTF HAX" just relax Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sargun II Posted December 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2009 (edited) Unity Island - 49% UI Underground - 29% UI Middleground - 100% UI Overground - 8% Spanish Overland Bridge - 49% Moroccan Overland Bridge - 100% Spanish Tunnel - 24% Moroccan Tunnel - 100% The percentages are not based on a factor of time but on how much of the relevant material has been brought and started to be worked on. These percentages also only apply to the initial construction and not the finish product or usability. Dumping of material on for Unity Island has completed and actual construction has begun on the Underground. Once utilities and power are brought to the island through the Moroccan Tunnel (and using one lane of the Moroccan Overland Bridge), construction will begin on the majority of the Overground. //OOC: development is being hurried because it's a wonder; any people going "WTF HAX" just relax Edited December 13, 2009 by Sargun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sargun II Posted December 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2009 Unity Island - 94% UI Underground - 89% UI Middleground - 100% UI Overground - 74% Spanish Overland Bridge - 83% Moroccan Overland Bridge - 100% Spanish Tunnel - 88% Moroccan Tunnel - 100% The percentages are not based on a factor of time but on how much of the relevant material has been brought and started to be worked on. These percentages also only apply to the initial construction and not the finish product or usability. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sargun II Posted December 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2009 [Unity Island - 98% UI Underground - 95% UI Middleground - 100% UI Overground - 96% Spanish Overland Bridge - 98% Moroccan Overland Bridge - 100% Spanish Tunnel - 98% Moroccan Tunnel - 100% The percentages are not based on a factor of time but on how much of the relevant material has been brought and started to be worked on. These percentages also only apply to the initial construction and not the finish product or usability. Unity Bridge is set to open in a few weeks with the construction of a Memorial to Peace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sargun II Posted December 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2009 Unity Island - 100% UI Underground - 100% UI Middleground - 100% UI Overground - 100% Spanish Overland Bridge - 100% Moroccan Overland Bridge - 100% Spanish Tunnel - 100% Moroccan Tunnel - 100% Construction is being finalized, with the premier of the Memorial to Peace to be unveiled tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Botha Posted December 21, 2009 Report Share Posted December 21, 2009 This is for my Interstate wonder Interesting! I'm actually building mine after update tonight. I'll be a lot more boring mind you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sargun II Posted December 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2009 Interesting! I'm actually building mine after update tonight. I'll be a lot more boring mind you. //OOC: I bought my War Memorial wonder yesterday and I plan on tying it in as well. It'll be a nice surprise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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