Giant Inflatable Balloons Protect Underground From Floodwaters

Sea level is rising, and sweeping storms are becoming more common in New York. The New York City Subway is at risk, but it could be protected from flooding with waterproof covers in the entrances.

Sea level is rising, and sweeping storms are becoming more common in New York. The New York City Subway is at risk, but it could be protected from flooding with waterproof covers in the entrances.
As the US National Public Radio said, the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority began to look for new protection measures following the damage caused by Cyclone Santi three years ago, when several stations were completely flooded and some of them were destroyed.

The entrances of the stations are located only a few meters above the sea level and surrounded by tunnels and underground sewer pipes that can carry rainwater to the rails.

In case of flooding, the pumps that are capable of removing 49 million liters of water per day, could not cope with.

There is a new simple idea which is tested at the Canal Street station. The entrance of the station is covered with a waterproof plastic. The test is believed to be successful and the authorities plan to use this method to 23 stations.

However, there is a more futuristic solution, which is called "Tunnel resistant cap."

They are giant, cylindrical balloons that inflate in case of need and create a waterproof barrier in the tunnel.

The engineers, however, admit that the closures should be improved before developing into the tunnel and the technology is practically impossible to be evaluated before tested in the actual conditions of a storm.

Source: npr.org