The Strépy-Thieu boat lift on the Canal du Centre is considered by some to be one of the 'great futile projects'. Construction began in 1982 but was significantly delayed when responsibility for public works was transferred to the Walloon Region during the successive state reforms of the 1980s. There, the project was briefly considered abandoned, but ultimately, it was decided to complete the boat lift. The entire project ultimately cost more than four times the original estimate (€625 million instead of €150 million). The boat lift was finally completed and opened in 2002, well after the closure of the Walloon coal mines, for which it was originally intended.