LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) – The Metropolitan Sewer District has reached a milestone on their Waterway Protection Tunnel Project.
The shaft to reach the tunnel, which will run from 12th and Rowan Streets to Lexington Road and Grinstead Drive, is now at its full depth – 220 feet below ground.
This means crews can now install the tunnel boring machine and begin drilling horizontally.
The tunnel will help keep 54 million gallons of wastewater and stormwater out of Beargrass Creek and the Ohio River.
Once complete, it will also provide green space for phase four of Waterfront Park and a new Beargrass Creek Trailhead.
“The tunnel boring machine arrives on site in probably 20-25 semi-tractor trailer loads with individual pieces. As those arrive on site, we will utilize a crane to pick those up and place them below ground one at a time to assemble the machine below ground,” project manager Jacob Mathis said.
Pieces are expected to arrive by late September or early October.
MSD hopes to begin mining in November.
The Waterway Protection Tunnel is scheduled for completion by 2020.
