Tesla-friendly Tunnel System in Las Vegas, spearheaded by Elon Musk's innovation
The Music City Loop, an innovative and taxpayer-free investment, is set to revolutionise transportation in Nashville, Tennessee. This 10-mile underground tunnel system, designed by Elon Musk's Boring Company, aims to connect downtown Nashville and the Convention Center with Nashville International Airport, reducing travel time to about 8 minutes.
If all goes according to plan, the first stretch of the Nashville tunnel could open by fall 2026. Construction is slated to start in fall 2025, with a projected two-year construction period. Some sources suggest that groundbreaking might happen within weeks from late July 2025, although the official construction start is planned for fall.
The Boring Company, the visionary behind this project, will fund the tunnel entirely, with no cost to Tennessee taxpayers. Oversight and permitting fall under the Tennessee Department of Transportation and state-level agencies because the tunnel runs beneath state-owned roads, not local government.
Passengers will ride in The Boring Company's Tesla vehicles (not driving their own cars). The service is not considered public transit and is expected to cost more than city bus fare but less than typical rideshares, similar to the Las Vegas Loop operated by the Boring Company.
Nashville's hard, rocky geology presents tunneling challenges, but the company plans to use specially engineered American-made tunneling machines and adhere to strict safety standards. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy have expressed support, emphasising safety and coordination.
The Music City Loop is not the first commercial project for The Boring Company. The company is currently constructing the first segment of the Vegas Loop network, the Las Vegas Convention Center Loop (LVCC Loop), which has already moved over 3 million passengers through its 8 operational stations. When fully built, the Vegas Loop will whisk up to 90,000 people per hour.
The LVCC Loop, like the Music City Loop, uses Tesla Model Y vehicles. The Tesla fleet in the Nashville tunnel has a maximum capacity of 62 cars, each holding up to five passengers.
The Boring Company has other tunnels in construction, including the R&D Tunnel and the Hyperloop Test Track in Hawthorne, California, and is considering projects in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The Vegas Loop, an underground transportation system in Las Vegas, connects major hotspots like Harry Reid International Airport, Allegiant Stadium, and downtown. Trips on the Vegas Loop can be as quick as 2 to 8 minutes.
When the Music City Loop is operational, it could potentially transport 4,400 people per hour, connecting Nashville International Airport to downtown Nashville, reducing traffic congestion with zero-emissions electric vehicles traveling in the tunnels. This ambitious project is a testament to the future of urban transportation.
- The Music City Loop, a project by Elon Musk's Boring Company, shares similarities with the existing Las Vegas Loop, both using Tesla vehicles for transportation and aiming to revolutionize urban transportation.
- While the Music City Loop is a taxpayer-free investment, the oversight and permitting fall under the Tennessee Department of Transportation and state-level agencies due to the tunnel running beneath state-owned roads.
- The construction of the first stretch of the Nashville tunnel is projected to begin in fall 2025, with an expected two-year construction period, and some sources suggest a groundbreaking might happen within weeks from late July 2025.
- Upon completion, the Music City Loop could potentially transport up to 4,400 people per hour, similar to the Vegas Loop's capacity of 90,000 people per hour when fully built, and could significantly reduce travel time and traffic congestion in Nashville.
