‘The Russians don’t have a paved highway from one side of their country to the other, IIRC. A Bering Sea bridge? Maybe, it would probably take 50 years.’
Not true. There is a system of paved freeways between European Russia and Pacific Coast (known as ‘East Coast’ there) in place right now. Most of it was in place for many decades, with the exception of some 400 miles strip not far from Lake Baikal which was finally built about a decade ago.
Thanks for the straight dope, as my Dad used to say.