Mega-billionaire, Boring Company founder, and Texas resident, Elon Musk, is reportedly in discussions to build underground tunnels in Houston with the help of Rep. Wesley Hunt, in an effort to alleviate the city’s flooding problems. Here’s what we know.
Initially revealed through an investigation conducted by Houston Chronicle and The Texas Newsroom, co-published with ProPublica, and The Texas Tribune, Musk has been urging Texas officials to contract the Boring Company to building two tunnels underneath a Houston watershed.
The proposal of creating an underground tunnel network to alleviate flooding has been one Houston flood experts have studied extensively since the tragedy of Hurricane Harvey. Initial studies as conducted by Harris County Flood Control District, included eight mega tunnels stretching 130 miles leading from the city, with a particular focus on Buffalo Bayou, to the Gulf. Prospective costs of such an initiative were estimated to total $30 billion.
According to the Houston Chronicle and The Texas Newsroom’s investigation, Elon Musk with Wesley Hunt have spent the past few months, urging Texas officials to contract the Boring Company for this project. Through the Boring Company, the initiative would involve two smaller, 12-foot tunnels at a cheaper cost of $760 million. Boring Company has stated it would require state and local funds to subsidize 15% of front costs.
Though no public money has yet been given to the Boring Company, nor has a contractor been officially selected, the Harris County Commissioners Court has since voted to research a pilot program of tunnels similar to the specifications laid out by the company. The Army Corps of Engineers are also in consideration for the project.
As far as the efficacy of the Boring Company’s Houston tunnels, there has been discrepancy with flood experts who’ve maintained the necessity of pipelines 30 to 40 feet in diameter as opposed to 12-foot inner diameter tunnels. Larry Dunbar, a water resources engineer who’s previously provided council to Houston officials on drainage issues had this to say:
“If you build a smaller tunnel, OK, it’ll be cheaper, but it can carry less water,” Dunbar said. “So what have you saved? Have you reduced the flooding upstream by an inch? And are you going to spend multimillions of dollars to do that? Well, maybe that’s not worth it“.
If seen through, it would be the Boring Company’s first completed major project in Texas.
Hunt previously lamented the initial study’s delay, accusing the Army Corps of Engineers of “dragging their feet a little bit“. Back in February, Hunt said that he had mentioned the tunnels to Musk. As reported by Community Impact, “I talked to him about Hurricane Harvey and how we need tunnels. He told me, ‘I can do that a fraction of the cost the Army Corps of Engineers would do it.”
Hunt is reportedly considering a primary challenge to U.S. Sen. John Cornyn.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is reportedly open to the Boring Company’s plan, as reported by Houston Chronicle:
“If Elon Musk and the Boring Company, or any other company, can build two massive tunnels under the Houston bayous in a few years to save the city from flooding, I am always going to be interested to listen,” stated Patrick. “The truth is, Elon Musk is one of the only people in the world who could accomplish this.”
As of now, government officials have yet to select a contractor for the project, and thus is still to be determined.