When I was in junior high school school I read The
Constructive Uses of Neuclear Explosives (Project Plowshare).
Teller estimated digging a Panama Canal in 7 days or so.
Very cutting-edge at the time. This is much more complicated,
apparently.
Some test were done such as the one that made the Sedan Crater in Nevada. It’s still a little “warm”.
The Soviets used nukes for ice breakers and lighthouses. How’d that work out? Pretty damn good, actually.
And true regarding the Panama Canal, and, in fact, it could have been built without even needing any locks, as the nukes could have digged deeply enough.
Did Teller bother to look into how long until residual radiation wold allow anyone in to finish the canal?
And then, how long until shipping could use it?
Some of those old school guys were more than a bit cavalier about radiation issues.