As the world turned its attention to the transition of command in Washington this week, the tycoon Elon Musk and the mayor of Miami, Francis Suárez, changed tweets about a tunnel system that founder of SpaceX offered to build in the city.
Other mayors have joined in the excitement, but the outlook increases the anticipation of many Miami residents, although some are paying attention to the swampy geology of the area.
The exchange of tweets began on Monday, when Musk wrote: “Cars and trucks blocked in traffic generate megatons of toxic gases, but the @ boringcompany underground tunnels in Miami would solve the traffic and set an example for 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 “potential solutions for the benefit of our future.”
Cars and trucks stuck in traffic generate megatons of toxic gases and particles, but @companiaboring the road tunnels under Miami would solve the traffic and be an example to the world.
Spoken to @RonDeSantisFL about tunnels last week. If the governor and the mayor want this done, we will.
– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 18, 2021
Musk, who has just been listed as the richest person in the world, added that he spoke last week about the tunnels in Boring company, one of his projects, with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
“If the governor and the mayor want this done, we will,” the SpaceX leader promised adze.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine-Cava responded, “Let’s talk,” and Dean Trantalis of Fort Lauderdale County said his city wants 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 attract investors and technicians from Silicon Valley to the “magic city”.
But many were skeptical about the difficulties of tunneling in a swampy geology prone to floods from rising sea levels.
“He doesn’t look very smart and he’s definitely going to be expensive,” Kurtis Gurley, a professor of structural engineering at the University of Florida, told CBS Miami.
“This is probably the most important and innovative human being in life, but someone has to explain the geology of Florida before a disaster occurs. [porquería] incredibly stupid, “Michael Grunwald, a Florida journalist for Politico magazine, wrote on Twitter.
Michelle Grand, a 24-year-old civil engineer at Florida State University, told AFP that while it was interesting to “explore ways to improve the public transportation system,” it would be necessary to investigate whether the project “could be implemented without causing a major impact on the environment ”.
Florida is a porous limestone plateau, with abundant open or underground channels, prone to flooding and sinkholes, cavities that appear suddenly due to erosion caused by groundwater and can be swallowed up to a house.