Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed was on hand Wednesday to welcome the arrival of the first piece of the 400 foot long boring machine that will in September begin a five mile journey to the Chattahoochee River. The tunnel will connect the river to Bellwood Quarry in West Atlanta, creating an emergency 2.4 billion gallon reservoir for the city, enough water to last the city a full thirty days.
The reservoir is also expected to serve as the centerpiece for one of the city’s largest parks, which would function as the anchor for the westside section of the Atlanta Beltline. While that plan is not yet official, the land is supposed to be turned over to the city’s Parks Department once the reservoir is fully filled in.
Also on hand was Reed’s nominee for watershed commissioner Kishia L. Powell. Powell is expected to take over the position for Jo Ann Macrina, who was terminated by Reed in May.
Mayor @KasimReed welcomes tunnel boring machine to @Cityofatlanta @ATLWatershed #H2O4ATL @100ResCities pic.twitter.com/BlOmlnZH3m
— Stephanie S Benfield (@StuckeyBenfield) June 29, 2016
