5 Megaprojects That Will Affect Real Estate

Bisnow

From NFL stadiums to floating bridges—these massive infrastructure projects could mean big things for US property.

State Route 520 Floating Bridge

Location: Seattle

Cost: $4.65B

Completion: 2016

This new 7,710-foot bridge across Lake Washington helps connect the tech-boom city of Seattle with the rest of the country. The bridge's opening party was so popular it exceeded capacity—disappointing some locals who couldn't get on the engineering marvel.

New Atlanta Falcons Stadium

Location: Atlanta

Cost: $1.5B

Expected Completion: 2017

The Atlanta Falcons' new Mercedes-Benz stadium started with an initial $950M cost estimate, before rising twice to get to its current level. It could be worth it for Atlanta real estate though, as these types of event infrastructure projects are known to give cities a big economic boost.

Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Tunnel

Location: Seattle

Cost: $3.1B

Expected Completion: 2018

Another project that will connect the Northwest to the rest of us, this tunnel will take a main northwestern highway underneath downtown Seattle, avoiding the traffic of the Emerald City. The tunnel is being bored by a 57-foot in diameter machine nicknamed Big Bertha.

Panama Canal Expansion

Location: Panama

Cost: $5.25B

Expected Completion: June 2016

The Panama Canal expansion is one of the largest megaprojects underway, and is expected to impact shipping along the Atlantic coast. The project would nearly triple the size of the ships that could pass through the waterway.

New International Trade Crossing

Location: Michigan

Cost: $2.1B

Expected Completion: 2020

This bridge linking Detroit with Ontario promises to be a boost for US trade across the border, giving some much-needed relief to the 85-year-old Ambassador Bridge—which sees around 8,000 trucks daily. Canadians make up one of the largest groups of foreign investors in US real estate, and this bridge gives them a direct pipeline to the rapidly rebounding Detroit real estate market.

Continue reading this story with a free account

Log in or register
Sign up for more articles like this
Subscribe to Bisnow's National Newsletters
Related Stories

Data Center Energy Bill Stalls In Congress As Opponents Say It Lacked 'Real Teeth'

Kroenke Announces $135M Renovation For Denver's Ball Arena

Iconic Jersey Shore Property Hits The Market For $85M As Redevelopment Play

FedEx's Consolidation Plan Puts $3B Of CMBS Debt In Crosshairs

FBI Opens Investigation Into Multifamily Investor Lurin Capital

DWS Plans Liquidation Of Nontraded REIT After Heightened Redemption Activity

Bisnow's 2026 DEI Data Series

Lincoln Property's New Pennsylvania Head On What Types Of Deals He's Targeting

America's Data Centers Are Running Out Of People Who Know How To Run Them

Why Data Centers Crave Simplicity As Operations Grow More Complex

Blackstone Looks To Secondary Market To Cash Out Investors In $11B Fund

CalSTRS Plans $5B In New CRE Investments