Elon Musk has told Miami’s mayor that The Boring Company can build a tunnel under the coastal city for a fraction of the price it once believed the project would cost.
In 2018 Miami-Dade County transit officials estimated a 2-mile tunnel connecting Brickell Avenue and Biscayne Boulevard would take four years and more than $900 million to build. (via Miami Herald)
On Friday Miami Mayor Francis Suarez shared details of a “wonderful call” he had with Musk in a video posted to Twitter. According to Suarez, Musk said he could save both time and money, build the tunnel in six months at a price tag of around $30 million.
Just had my call w/ @elonmusk regarding @boringcompany tunnels coming to MIA
DETAILS BELOW👇🏽 pic.twitter.com/NsJFYcvGeQ
— Mayor Francis Suarez (@FrancisSuarez) February 5, 2021
What makes digging a tunnel under Miami especially difficult is the fact the city sits on Limestone. The soft spongey rock was one of the main reasons the project’s sky-high estimate.
The phone call with Suarez comes a few weeks after Musk first tweeted about the possible project. On January 18th Musk said he had already spoken with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis about the idea, adding he’s ready to do it if wanted.
Cars & trucks stuck in traffic generate megatons of toxic gases & particulate, but @boringcompany road tunnels under Miami would solve traffic & be an example to the world.
Spoke with @RonDeSantisFL about tunnels last week. If Governor & Mayor want this done, we will do it.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 18, 2021
