Source: VORTEX Control

Eternal Projects

Sometimes the Longest Critical Path Is Not in Primavera P6.

As schedulers, we spend countless hours analyzing critical paths measured in days, weeks, or months. But some projects have critical paths measured in decades.

California High-Speed Rail

A planned 494-mile high-speed rail system connecting Los Angeles and San Francisco, designed for trains operating up to 220 mph.

- Approved by voters in 2008.

- Construction started in 2015.

- Still not operational.

- Original cost estimate: ~$33 Billion.

- Current estimates range from $90 Billion to over $125 Billion.

Basque Y High-Speed Rail - Spain

A high-speed rail network connecting Bilbao, Vitoria-Gasteiz, and San Sebastián, forming a "Y" shape and linking northern Spain to the European rail network.

- First concepts emerged in the 1980s.

- Construction began in 2006.

- Originally expected around 2017.

- Current opening target: 2027.

HS2 (United Kingdom)

One of Europe's largest transportation projects, intended to create a new high-speed railway connecting London with Birmingham and northern England.

- First proposed around 2009.

- Construction started in 2020.

- Multiple scope reductions and delays.

- Costs have more than doubled from original estimates.

Stuttgart 21 (Germany)

A massive redevelopment of Stuttgart's central railway station and surrounding transportation infrastructure.

- Planning started in the 1990s.

- Construction began in 2010.

- Originally scheduled for completion in 2019.

- Current opening expected around 2026–2027.

Messina Strait Bridge (Italy)

A proposed suspension bridge linking mainland Italy and Sicily.

- Discussed since the 1960s.

- Approved, canceled, redesigned, and revived multiple times.

- More than 50 years of studies, politics, and debate.

- Construction is only now moving toward reality.

And then...

There is the undisputed champion.

𝐒𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐚 𝐅𝐚𝐦í𝐥𝐢𝐚 (𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐚)

A church designed by Antoni Gaudí.

- Construction started in 𝟏𝟖𝟖𝟐.

- Gaudí took over in 𝟏𝟖𝟖𝟑.

- Gaudí died in 𝟏𝟗𝟐𝟔.

- Construction is still 𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠.

Expected completion: "𝐬𝐨𝐨𝐧"... depending on who you ask.

𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝟏𝟒𝟎 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 after groundbreaking.

At this point, nobody knows where the 𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 is.

The 𝐚𝐬-𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭 report probably needs its own building.

The 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 log may be larger than the Bible.

And somewhere, deep inside the project controls office, a scheduler is still explaining why the project is only slightly behind the original plan. 🤣 🤣

🏆𝐒𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐚 𝐅𝐚𝐦í𝐥𝐢𝐚: 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞.

Maybe the world's longest critical path isn't inside Primavera P6.

Maybe it's inside a megaproject.

The lesson?: Mega-projects are rarely delayed by concrete, steel, or asphalt.

The longest path usually runs through: Environmental approvals, Funding availability, Utility relocations, Land acquisition, Politics, Stakeholder management, Design development, Permits and litigation

Maybe the world's longest critical path isn't inside Primavera P6. Maybe it's inside a megaproject.