The city of Austin invited members of the news media to visit Waller Creek Tunnel, which is being constructed to reduce flooding of the Waller Creek.Joe Pantalion, Deputy Director of the Watershed Protection Department, told KUT News in September that "the Austin chalk limestone that’s 60 to 70 feet below Austin is some of the best material to tunnel through… It has enough hardness to tunnel through without requiring a significant stabilization system. But at the same time, the excavation is not like cutting through butter, but pretty close.”
The article indicates that conversations are ongoing for a similar tunnel for Austin’s subway. However, in addition to the technical aspects associated with that construction, the cost would be reportedly too high to be covered by the City of Austin and federal funding would not be more than 50% of the total cost. The news coverage is available here. A video by Videographer Jeff Heimsath is also available in the same address, you can view it also below, in our Media Gallery of this article.
On a side note, it is in our opinion a great idea to have media visit construction sites and infrastructure while it is being constructed and not only after. It gives people an appreciation of the type of work geotechnical engineers do.
Source: KUT News
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