In September 2000, a routine construction project beneath downtown Dallas turned into a major flooding incident after a pressurised water main was damaged beneath Young Street. Millions of gallons of treated water poured into an abandoned railway tunnel, eventually reaching two nearby federal buildings. According to the US Department of Justice, the Santa Fe Federal Building was left with about 12 feet of water, while the Earle Cabell Federal Building and US Courthouse also suffered flooding in their basement areas. The buildings were temporarily closed, and the US government later pursued compensation from the construction companies involved. Four years after the incident, a federal jury found Dynamic Cable Construction Company and Reata Construction Company liable for the damage. The dispute eventually ended with a $2.33 million settlement.
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