O’Hare Express HSR tunnel construction to commence in Chicago

[wolverine]

The Boring Co to begin construction at O’Hare and the abandoned sub-basements of block 37 left unfinished almost a decade ago.

The ride from downtown to the airport will be 12 mins and cost less than taxis and Carsharing

https://chicago.curbed.com/2018/6/14...-ohare-express

[coracle]

They’re going to start drilling simultaneously from the Airport and Block 37. So, bearing in mind this is a Musk project [[we, the taxpayer are footing the bill), if the holes don’t meet in the middle they’ll get two holes for the price if one.

If this happens, maybe Detroit can pick up one of the holes at a bargain price and save multiple Suburban millages ad infinitum.

[wolverine]

No taxpayer money can be used on this project. If it fails, it becomes abandoned. While the airport is a public facility, it’s $8.5 billion reconstruction and expansion isn’t using taxpayer money either. Block 37 is private property although the city spent initially $250 million on the basement of the mall 10 years ago.

I think the schedule is aggressive and while I don’t doubt the project will happen, less than 3 years to opening day is overly optimistic when the drilling and conveyance equipment for these unusually small tunnels hasn’t been built yet.