The Boring Company is setting its sights on Houston with a proposal that shifts the company’s usual focus from easing urban traffic to tackling one of Texas’s biggest challenges—flood control.
According to an investigation by the Texas Newsroom and the Houston Chronicle, Musk has pitched the idea of constructing large-scale stormwater tunnels that could help protect Houston from catastrophic flooding events. The billionaire entrepreneur has reportedly urged Texas leaders to consider hiring his Bastrop-based tunneling firm to build a pair of underground systems around a key watershed in the city.
Flooding Concerns Rooted in Hurricane Harvey
The idea comes in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, the devastating 2017 storm that struck the Gulf Coast as a Category 4 hurricane. Harvey caused dozens of deaths and billions in damages, leaving local leaders searching for long-term solutions to protect the region from future disasters.
Flood experts have floated the concept of a tunnel network across Harris County for years. A 2020 study from the Harris County Flood Control District even proposed up to eight massive tunnels buried deep underground, including one along Buffalo Bayou. However, the project—estimated at $30 billion—has struggled to move beyond the planning phase, with officials citing high costs and the slow pace of federal support from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Political Allies and Proposals
Musk has reportedly found a political ally in Houston-area Congressman Wesley Hunt, who has consistently championed flood mitigation. Hunt has facilitated discussions between Musk’s team and state officials, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s office, to keep the project on the radar before any formal bidding process begins.
In February, Hunt revealed that Musk claimed his company could complete the tunnels “at a fraction of the cost” compared to traditional Army Corps projects.
The Boring Company’s proposal outlines two 36-mile tunnels, each with a 12-foot inner diameter, designed to move stormwater from the Addicks and Barker Reservoirs straight to the Port of Houston. The estimated cost is $760 million, and the firm has requested that 15 percent of the funding come from state and local governments.
Questions About Scale and Feasibility
Despite the enthusiasm, concerns remain. Local flood control officials have questioned whether the Boring Company has the capability to build tunnels wide enough—at least 20 feet in diameter—to handle the immense volumes of water needed during extreme weather.
Still, a recent pilot study suggested smaller, 10-foot tunnels could be viable, putting the project within the company’s current technical reach. The study also pointed to the potential for a public-private partnership, which may open the door to collaboration with Musk’s team.
An Uncertain Future
As of now, no public funds have been allocated, and the proposal remains speculative. While the Boring Company has earned attention for projects in Las Vegas and exploratory talks in Tennessee, the Houston flood tunnels represent a major departure from its typical traffic-focused ventures.
