Atlanta, For Immediate Release: Japan ’s huge Akashi Kaikyo Bridge ranks as the world most significant span, noted futurist McKinley Conway says in his new book, Global Super Projects: Mega Ventures That Are Shaping Our Future.

Japan ’s landmark bridge, however, is only one of a host of mega-endeavors in which Conway has selected the most significant projects in recent history. In addition, the author of several dozen other books has chosen the top projects in 19 other important categories, ranging from environmental and conservation undertakings, to new airports, highways and other infrastructure elements. (To access all of Conway’s selections, as well as the Conway Global Super Projects Registry, look for the online version of the entire book that will be available by Jan. 16, 2006, at www.sitenet.com/books/superprojects. To go directly to the Conway Global Super Projects Registry, go to www.sitenet.com/books/superprojects/registry.)

Conway, a pioneer in the economic development field, made his selections from what he calls “Super Projects, the billion-dollar babies that are changing the face of world development.” A Super Project, he explains, “represents a cost of US$1 billion or more and/or a represents a technological breakthrough of worldwide significance.” Conway’s Atlanta-based research firm, Conway Data Inc., maintains a global Super Project database that now includes some 2,000 ventures.

Just how did Conway, who has studied major global projects for decades and brought together leading Super Project experts in a series of historic worldwide conferences, choose the crème de la crème? The winners, he explains, “were those deemed to be most significant in improving the quality of life for large numbers of the world’s citizens.”

Here, for example, is how the author explained his choice for the world’s most significant span:

“The $4.2 billion Akashi Kaikyo bridge, with a span of 6,570 feet (1,991 meters), was completed in 1998 and is the longest central-span suspension bridge on record. While it was under construction, a disastrous earthquake hit the Kobe area, but the bridge was left intact. This encouraged designers to proceed with plans for other structures in seismic zones around the world.

“The second longest span, 5,359 feet (1,624 meters), is Denmark’s Great Belt East Bridge, also completed in 1998.

“Among tunnel projects, the Swiss Gotthard Base Tunnel project now being dug will be the world’s longest railway tunnel upon completion in 2015; it will be 36 miles (57 km.) long. The longest rail tunnel now operating is Japan’s Seikan project, which is 33 miles (54 km.) long.”