Elon Musk, Rep. Hunt Reported Advancing $760M Houston Flood Tunnel Project

Elon Musk's tunneling company, The Boring Company, is actively pursuing a role in Harris County's flood control efforts by proposing smaller, 12-foot diameter tunnels under Buffalo Bayou as a more affordable alternative to the county's original $30 billion plan involving larger 40-foot tunnels. U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, a Houston Republican and potential Senate candidate, has been quietly supporting Musk's plan and facilitating access to lawmakers, including discussions with Lt. Governor Dan Patrick. The county has responded by agreeing to study smaller tunnel sizes, which aligns with Musk's proposal, though experts caution that smaller tunnels alone may not adequately address the flooding problem. The Boring Company seeks a public-private partnership to design, build, and operate portions of the flood tunnel system, but skepticism remains since the company has no prior experience with major flood-control projects. The initiative reflects ongoing efforts to find innovative and cost-effective solutions to chronic flooding in Houston, a problem highlighted since Hurricane Harvey devastated the region in 2017. Despite the controversy and challenges, Musk and Hunt's collaboration marks a significant development in the search for flood mitigation strategies in Harris County.