Japan is world-renowned when it comes to construction projects. It holds records for the world's longest tunnel (the Seikan tunnel between Honshu and Hokkaido), the world's longest suspension bridge (the Akashi-Kaikyo bridge between Kobe and Awaji island) and from 2025 it will have the world's longest Maglev train track between Tokyo and Nagoy, which will see people travelling at over 500kmph!
Today, I found a picture explaining what's going on beneath the construction site near our house. They've been working on it for months, but nothing seems to have been built. I thought it was a bit strange - but now all is clear!
They're building some kind of air-exchange plant that will help keep the Tokyo subway tubes cool and clean. To do this, they're digging a huge hole in the ground which will go down over 70 metres.
Because there's a river nearby, they have to pump high-pressure air into the hole to keep the water out, and the workers all have to go through an air-lock to enter the site.
But the thing I love is the diggers - check them out! There's 7 of them, suspended from the ceiling on little tracks!
But can you imagine being the operator of one of those? Working way underground in a high pressure chamber with tonnes of concrete above you? I'm not sure I'd like to do that.
Seeing these kinds of projects makes me think that in Japan, anything is possible.
Mind you, Things don't always go to plan - Kansai International Airport which was built on an artificial island in the sea is sinking!
Do you have any crazy construction projects where you live?
