As the world turned its attention this week to the transition of command in Washington, the tycoon Elon Musk and the mayor of Miami, Francis Suárez, exchanged tweets about a tunnel system that included the founder of SpaceX offered to build in the city.
Other mayors joined in on the excitement, but the prospect raises expectations for many of Miami’s many residents, though some are wary of the area’s swampy geology.
The exchange of tweets began Monday, when Musk wrote, “Cars and trucks stuck in traffic generate megatons of toxic gases, but @ boringcompany’s underground tunnels in Miami would dissolve traffic and set an example to the world.”
With this message, Musk responded to an invitation on Twitter from the Mayor of Miami, who offered to visit the city to discuss “possible solutions for our future.”
Cars and trucks stuck in traffic generate megatons of toxic gases and particles, but @boringcompany road tunnels under Miami would dissolve traffic and set an example to the world.
Talked to @RonDeSantis about tunnels last week. If the governor and mayor want this, we will.
– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 18, 2021
Musk, who has just been listed as the richest person in the world, added that he had spoken about the tunnels of The boring company, one of his businesses, with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
“If the governor and mayor want this to happen, we’ll do it,” the SpaceX leader promised. Tesla.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine-Cava replied “let’s talk” and Dean Trantalis, Fort Lauderdale County, said his city “wanted to be part of the discussion.”
Let’s talk
– Daniella Levine Cava (@MayorDaniella) January 18, 2021
The exchange takes place in the context of the efforts of Suarez, the mayor of Miami, to lure Silicon Valley investors and techies to the “magical city.”
But many were skeptical of the difficulties of tunneling in a swampy geology prone to flooding from rising sea levels.
“It doesn’t sound very smart and it will certainly be expensive,” Kurtis Gurley, a professor of construction engineering at the University of Florida, told CBS Miami.
“This is probably the most important and innovative human being out there, but someone has to explain to him the geology of Florida before a disaster strikes. [porquería] incredibly stupid, ”tweeted Michael Grunwald, a Florida-based journalist for Politico magazine.
Michelle Grand, a 24-year-old civil engineering student at Florida State University, told AFP that while it is interesting to “explore ways to improve public transportation,” it would be necessary to investigate whether the project could be implemented without with a major impact on the environment “.
Florida is a porous limestone plateau, with abundant open or underground channels, prone to flooding and the appearance of sinkholes, cavities that appear suddenly as a result of the erosion produced by underground water and that can be swallowed up into a home.