The city of Chicago announced a plan recently to build a stormwater tunnel connected to McCormick Place that would flush rainwater into Lake Michigan and lessen the burden on the city's sewer lines.

The tunnel would cost about $16 million and be built over 15 months by the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, according to a city water department news release.

From its starting point at McCormick Place West, the tunnel will discharge the water near Northerly Island, the release said. No date was given for the start of construction.

The plan is being reviewed by several agencies, including the U.S. and Illinois Environmental Protection Agencies and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, according to the release.

Source: CWW   April 11, 2005