The Boring Co. is preparing to launch a third tunnel-drilling machine at a new site in Nashville. This moves the company, which is owned by trillionaire Elon Musk, closer to its goal of building an underground rideshare circuit connecting the airport to downtown.
When the Music City Loop opens, only Tesla rideshare vehicles will be allowed to use it. Musk also owns Tesla.
In a recent blog post, the Boring Co. said it expects a third machine to start digging by the end of October. It also said a fourth machine is currently being built, with the aim of having that one tunneling by the end of the year.
The first two machines have been drilling from a state-owned parking lot on Rosa L. Parks Blvd. near the Capitol. However, this next stage of construction will involve breaking ground on a new site. While the company hasn’t disclosed where, the Nashville Business Journal reports it is likely at 200 Jupiter Drive, which is right along Murfreesboro Pike near the airport. That’s where the company filed a permit with Metro to drill a launch shaft, according to the Journal.
The Boring Co. said it has obtained all necessary permits ahead of tunneling.
Now, it is looking ahead to the stations where passengers will access the tunnels. The company said it’s in various stages of planning and development for more than 40 potential stations. Crucially, the Nashville International Airport and the Music City Convention Center Authority both unanimously approved connections with the Music City Loop.
The Boring Co. announced that other stations are planned at the JW Marriott hotel and some apartment buildings downtown.
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