Atlanta is honoring one of its most famous rappers with an $11.6 million machine
Atlanta Department of Watershed Management
Atlanta has a new tunnel borer, and thankfully it doesn't have a long, technical name.
Instead, it's called "Driller Mike," after Killer Mike, the popular rapper and proud Atlanta resident who makes up one half of hip-hop duo Run the Jewels.
On Wednesday, the City of Atlanta unveiled the 400-foot-long tunnel-boring machine, which will eventually drill out a five-mile underground reservoir that's expected to hold 2.4 billion gallons of water - enough to sustain 1.2 million people for a month, according to the Atlanta Journal-Courier.
The City christened the $11.6 million machine "Driller Mike" at a ceremony at the Bellwood Quarry in northwest Atlanta. Killer Mike, who made news earlier this year for his strong support of Bernie Sanders, joined officials at the unveiling.
Special thanks to @KillerMike and his family, contest winner @bschro3000 & @ATLWatershed for a great event today. #h2o4atl pic.twitter.com/yTNPZsuzkz
- City of Atlanta, GA (@Cityofatlanta) September 21, 2016
"It was the funniest thing in the world to me. I didn't take it seriously, because I'm a rapper. Cities don't associate themselves with rappers," Killer Mike told the AP. "But I'm a business owner, a dad, an active member of politics in Atlanta, so I was honestly honored that people in Atlanta saw fit to name something after me."
At the ceremony, the City also demonstrated the drill's 12-foot diamond head:
The new tunnel boring machine, "Driller Mike" named for Atlanta's own @KillerMike is officially on! pic.twitter.com/gziU7FT7ns
- City of Atlanta, GA (@Cityofatlanta) September 21, 2016
The $300 million drilling project will connect the Bellwood Quarry to the nearby Chattahoochee River and Hemphill Water Treatment Plant. The machine will create the deepest tunnel in the state, which is expected to be finished by the end of 2018.
The naming of the drill had been in the works for a while - earlier this year, the Atlanta Journal-Courier reported that the City held an open submission for names, which drew over 700 suggestions. The City narrowed it down to three options: "Peach Beast," "Scarlett," and "Driller Mike," which won the public vote.
- I got a $40K raise using this 30-second strategy. It made me realize loud work, not hard work, always wins.
- Qatar Airways' new CEO explains why it's sticking with the Airbus A380 as other airlines retire the costly superjumbo
- Prince Harry and Meghan found out about Kate Middleton's cancer diagnosis on TV like everyone else, report says
- Kia India looks to expand sales, service network to 700 touchpoints by year-end
- Shapoorji Pallonji’s Afcons Infra files DRHP for ₹7,000 crore IPO
- Water crisis affects businesses across Bengaluru; Is there room for cautious optimism?
- BenQ Zowie EC2-CW review – Premium wireless mouse for gamers
- Banks' GNPAs set to improve further to 2.1 pc by FY25: Care Ratings