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Channel TunnelThe astounding feats of engineers are what first draw many to the profession. Whether it is forging the Suez Canal or building a motor the size of a flea, engineers dream of conquering the great "impossibilities." That dream became a reality for mechanical engineer John Neerhout who in 1990 seized his opportunity to achieve the impossible. He was asked to take over as project chief executive for construction of a double railway tunnel scheme for a Channel Tunnel (Chunnel), a fixed link joining France and England across the English Channel. Owned by Eurotunnel, the visionary project had been plagued by severe cost, schedule and safety problems. The operation was incredibly complex. Linking two countries, the project required working in two languages with two governments; two sets of national construction, safety and legal codes; 10 contractors; and 220 syndicate banks. By all accounts, Neerhout’s leadership, technical know-how and management turned the project around. Today the 32-mile "Chunnel" is an engineering wonder. Completed at a cost of $12 billion, it is the world’s largest privately financed engineering endeavor.
Last Updated: 02/16/03
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