Tunnel could tie Russia, Alaska

Russian officials say they want to build a railroad across the top of the world.

According to a report Tuesday in the The Times of London, a Russian official said his government wants to move forward on a plan to link Siberia and Alaska with a 60 mile long, $90 million tunnel.

The tunnel — the most ambitious infrastructure project ever attempted — would take 20 years to complete, and would allow Russia and Canada to be linked by rail.

The official, Viktor Razbegin of Russia’s Centre for Regional Transport Projects, said money to fund the effort is available. He said the proposal is ready to go before the World Bank and the Russian and American governments.

In addition to the tunnel, the Arctic rail route would require the construction of around 8,000 kilometres of roadbed and tracks between Prince George, B.C., and Chumikan in eastern Russia.