Huge 109-mile tunnel maze hidden under city could save it from climate change 

Tunnel maze under city could save it from climate change – US News – News – Daily Express US Search A sprawling network of tunnels lurks 90 metres under the streets of bustling city Chicago, and it’s not just a fascinating bit of local history – it’s also the key to saving the city from the damaging effects of climate changeLink copied Bookmark Postcard shows a colorized view of an underground tunnel and narrow gauge railroad, Chicago, Illinois, early 1910s. Two conductors stand in an electric engine used to transport freight between buildings. (Photo by Stock Montage/Getty Images) (Image: Getty Images)Beneath the bustling streets of Chicago, its towering skyscrapers, and mouth-watering deep-dish pizzerias, lies a hidden labyrinth stretching over 100 miles.The Tunnel and Reservoir Plan, also known as the Deep Tunnel system, is one of the world’s most colossal civil engineering feats, with construction ongoing since the 1970s. This subterranean marvel could potentially play a pivotal role in combating climate change in the future.During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Chicago was experiencing rapid growth, but its infrastructure lagged behind. Built on swampy terrain, the city’s flat and low-lying topography led to significant drainage problems.Huge US region ‘will be 60 percent underwater within decade’Hezbollah’s 100-meter-long tunnel network destroyed by Israeli fighters – VIDEOStorms would turn the streets into muddy rivers, while stagnant water pools were a common sight across the city. Recognizing the need for an extensive sewer system, local authorities faced the daunting task of excavating beneath the city a costly endeavor.Instead, they opted to elevate the city by two meters, installing above-ground sewage pipes and filling the gaps with soil, reports the Mirror.An image of the Chicago Elevated Trains from the footbridge between the platforms of Adams & Wabash. (Image: Getty Images)While this addressed one issue, it spawned another. The freshly installed sewers crisscrossing the city discharged directly into the waterways, which in turn flowed into Lake Michigan – the city’s drinking water source.Diseases were rampant until engineers rerouted the Chicago River. Instead of flowing into the lake, it was redirected towards the Mississippi River.A series of locks were built along with a 45-kilometer canal that sloped downhill. Pumping stations would guide the water through the canal as it deepened towards the Des Plaines and Mississippi Rivers, creating a reversal effect – which is still operational today.As Chicago’s populace swelled, the sewer system became increasingly strained and by the 1960s, the sewers overflowed on over 100 days annually.This led to the introduction of the Deep Tunnel system. The Water Reclamation District collaborated with other local bodies to establish the 108-mile long tunnel network, which also incorporated three reservoirs and was designed to help manage the city’s overflow and pollution probl