I know that this topic has been brought up before, but why shouldn't Houston turn the Pierce elevated into the Pierce tunnel? The portion of I-45 that separates downtown from midtown definitely creates a barrier that hinders that part of the city to truly feel as one whole continuous neighborhood. Neighborhood might be the wrong word but I-45 definitely creates an obvious physical and psychological barrier. Why not make the pierce elevated into a tunnel with a boulevard on top of that. People driving through downtown would have the option of taking the tunnel, no lights, just a freeway that turns into a tunnel. Or exiting pierce take pierce and hop back on 45. Some off and on ramps would have to be reconfigured but that's part of the construction. I don't know how this would create more traffic than what already exists. Don't start bashing me, I just want some further insight on why this could or couldn't work.