Going through Mexico using former/transient bodies of water along the canal route is estimated to cost about $3b by Metcalf & Edy
But depending on the width of the canal the anscillary property damage, human tole, loss of property and the costs of adding new bridges could full well cost $50b or more
The original proposal wanted it to be wide enough for ocean going vessels and use the it flows downhill path of least resistance method which would flood a very large area recreating the extents of a large ancient sea, I doubt the amount of land loss would ever be tolerated as you would loose portions of Mexicali and the salty dust storm areas that tourists like to drive but those same areas flood randomly so maybe better to remain flooded?
The salinity issue isn’t really important in the grand scheme but could become a “resource” if we want to mine for salt / lithium similar to the Dead Sea.
Quote:
Originally Posted by redpoint5
That boring seems like a bargain.
$1,136 per foot at $6M/mile.
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Remember Musk doesn’t have a corner on boring the government core of engineering can do it also
So It is a bargain but sadly going through the us side means you are drilling under rich attorneys properties and even though they have no legal right to “mineral rights” if they know the Chunnel is going under their property they will sue ensuring the $50b comes to fruition
Next issue is that a small car sized tunnel likely can’t supply enough water to overcome evaporative and “hydraulic conductivity “ and the cost to bore larger raises the costs significantly, you also have additional costs to reinforce/line the tunnel to be filled with water (dry tunnel is cheaper)
An alternative “cheaper “ proposal would be to connect laguna salada to the Salton as it floods randomly then dries up shortly after, supposedly this would stabilize the current Salton levels , would only run about $3m but unknown what side effects that would have.
Another not popular option is to stop irritation and let it go back to being a dry area with Yellowstone like steam vents in places.
Given the rate wells are drying up that might be what happens regardless of our actions.