Let's pick up from our last entry. 

Alpine City has unlocked its rare metal reserves. The Cratercove Mine has seen significant growth and is expanding towards the mountains. While this mine is utterly destroying the local environment, the profit it generates can aid the development of Alpine City for decades to come. 

To maximize profit, a metal mill is built near the mine. Now the ore can be processed locally. However, signs of pollution has already begun to show. 

Despite the negative effect of the metal mine, Alpine City actually did benefit quite a lot from the profit it generates. Here are some of the significant projects undergoing with all that extra resources. 

1. The Alpine City Metals Company and their projects

This is the company directly responsible for the operation of Cratercove Mine. While its primary business is mining and metal works, the company partnered up with the city's tourism board and is investing in quite a few interesting projects.

The most significant one is the construction of the Summit Castle. It is located on the high land between The Big Slide and Castle Peak. Built in medieval style, the Summit Castle is in fact a hotel and scenic overlook, enjoying the view of Alpine City from its prime location. 

Even at night, the Summit Castle is a beauty to behold. The old town of Rosewood and Cratercove lies below the castle, sparkling with city lights. 

The line of sight of the Summit Castle works in both ways. People can see the entire town from the castle, meaning that the castle is visible from pretty much everywhere in town. 

 

2. The North Bridge

This is a project by the city council to improve traffic in town. While the main bridge already has 4 lanes, it is failing to handle the increasing traffic from tourist and added population. The solution is to build a second bridge that connects Rosewood directly with Cratercove. 

There aren't much space available in both towns. the new bridge is sited 2 blocks north of the Main Bridge, hence is named the North Bridge. Due to site constraint, it can only hold 2 lanes. 

Similar to the Main Bridge, the North Bridge is also built in masonry stone arches. Its bridge height is quite a bit taller due to the landing portion is on highland. The arch span is also shorter than the Main Bridge. 

The North Bridge provides a more direct access from Cratercove to Magnolia Forestry Area and hence the highway entrance, without having to go through Rosewood downtown. 

The two arch bridges could sometimes creates some interesting scene along Rosewood River. 

 

3. The bypass highway 

This is perhaps the most important infrastructure yet to happen in Alpine City. When completed, it will connect Westdale to Magnolia - the two industrial centers of the city, without having to pass through the old town of Rosewood. 

However, this project is met with severe challenges. First, it must not disrupt the old town, which leaves no other option than to go through the mountain side.

Castle Terrace, the first satellite town ever built, ended up being the first town to ever be demolished, in order to make way for the new highway. The location that was once Castle Terrace has become a construction site. 

The unforgiving topography leaves the majority of the highway either being underground (in blue color) or on elevated section (in red color). 

There are still problems yet to settle on the design of the highway. Most of the underground sections are also yet to be constructed. For now, Rosewood must endure the traffic congestion, until the completion of the highway. 

 

4. Sunrise Summit

If you are a long time follower, you may remember Sunrise Summit. It is a mountain towards the far east part of Alpine City, and is where the tourism of Alpine City began. 

With the increasing demand for residential zone in Alpine City, and the shift of tourism into the old town itself, it is decided to convert the mountain into a proper residential town. 

The old dirt road that goes up the mountain is re-paved into a large road, getting ready to serve the future satellite residential town. 

 

And so this is the update of Alpine City. Without much economic constraints, the city goes full turbo in developing new infrastructure, new industries, new towns and tourist attractions. We can expect a lot of changes to the city in the future.