Fort Smith officials say the city could soon partner with a company owned by Elon Musk on a major infrastructure project to improve the city’s water system.
City Director Neil Martin says Musk’s company, The Boring Company, has selected Fort Smith as one of the top 16 finalists for its “Tunnel Vision” project, which could bring an additional 42 million gallons of water per day to the city.
The Boring Company plans to build one project free of charge from more than 480 applications submitted nationwide.
Fort Smith’s proposal calls for constructing a four-foot water transmission pipe approximately 70 feet underground to carry water from the Fort Smith Water Treatment Plant to surrounding communities by tunneling beneath the Arkansas River.
If completed, city officials say the combined water output could reach 60 million gallons per day enough to fill about 91 Olympic-size swimming pools daily.
Officials say the city’s current water infrastructure, built between the 1930s and 1950s, no longer meets growing demand. The proposed pipeline would improve water pressure across the city, help supply developing areas such as Chaffee Crossing and support future expansion.
Fort Smith Director of Communications Josh Buchfink said the project would benefit not only the city but surrounding areas as well.
“This water transmission line not only will service the city of Fort Smith, of course, but five other counties,” Buchfink said.
Officials also say the project would support manufacturing, industry and military facilities including Ebbing Air National Guard Base and Fort Chaffee, while also improving water supply for firefighting needs.
City leaders estimate winning the project could save Fort Smith roughly $20 million in construction costs.
The Boring Company is expected to announce the winning project on March 23.
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