A massive tunnel boring machine has arrived in southwest Detroit as part of an $87 million infrastructure project aimed at protecting neighborhoods from flooding during heavy rain events.
The Great Lakes Water Authority is launching the ambitious project to carve a tunnel 35 feet below the streets of southwest Detroit. The tunnel will stretch two-thirds of a mile and serve as part of an updated wastewater system designed to redirect excess water during storms.
“We’re anticipating 12 to 18 months of tunnel boring,” said Chris Nastally, director of engineering at GLWA.
The tunnel will help redirect excess wastewater during heavy rains and lower the risks of overflows into the Rouge River. This will help protect water quality and nearby neighborhoods from destructive flooding that has plagued the region…