TikTok is a platform brimming with diverse and inventive content, yet one user has captured attention for an unexpected reason.
While many TikTok users attract followers by dancing, offering life advice, or creating engaging content, Kala, an engineer from Northern Virginia, has captivated viewers with a different approach.
Operating under the username @engineer.everything, Kala has been sharing updates on her ‘underground tunnel system’ project since August 2022.
The tunnel, positioned 22 feet underground, leads to a storm shelter, but its construction has proven to be quite challenging.
Kala has dedicated months to ensuring the tunnel’s functionality and safety, tasks that demand considerable effort.
Her projects include cutting through concrete, building an elevator shaft for material transport, pumping out water, and setting up ventilation and electricity systems, highlighting the extensive details involved in constructing a massive underground tunnel.
Viewers have lauded Kala for her efforts, though the city’s response has been less favorable.
Recalling a conversation with city officials, Kala informed her viewers: “They did give me a stop work order and are requiring an immediate evaluation by a professional engineer.”
Kala noted that the tunnel is built ‘entirely below the slab of [her] house,’ suggesting it ‘shouldn’t be too hard to get the permits and approval.’
Despite the initial setback over a year ago, Kala remains in negotiations with the city to proceed with the tunnel. Though she has obtained a permit, several tests and inspections are required to guarantee the underground structure’s safety.
As Kala continues her quest to develop the underground tunnel system, one of her neighbors has voiced concerns over the project’s impact.
In an interview with WUSA9, a neighbor named David highlighted the potential safety risks he perceives in Kala’s work.
“It’s definitely a first,” he remarked. “It’s concerning during the day that there’s a lot of noise being made but nothing that would truly bother us to call the authorities in any way.”
Despite obtaining necessary permits, Kala recently faced challenges regarding her ventilation system, which was initially flagged for not meeting code requirements.
However, after an air quality inspection, her system’s measurements were validated, allowing her to continue using the existing ventilation.
Kala’s ambitious experiment has fascinated viewers, who eagerly anticipate her next steps and continue to support her through her struggles with the city.
“Welp, I’m fully invested,” one viewer commented. “Do we have a goal, or are we just expressing ourselves through tunneling?”
Another joked: “Even with all the hurdles, they can’t take the breath of determination out of Kala’s lungs… or her tunnel!”