One underlying feature of this article is the need for government services when "government" is deemed to be part of the problem.

This particular project would likely not be feasible under a purely capitalistic society. Rather, there was a social/political force that garnered some public acceptance to eventually find the funds to make things happen.

And the people behind the project were very well qualified to take on this project.

When people disparage "government", they conveniently tend to forget that there are a lot of good things with government working silently in background.