The Boring Company posted fresh footage from its Nashville tunnel project on Monday, offering a ground-level look at the sheer volume of rock being moved as excavation continues beneath the Tennessee capital. The short clip — captioned 'The long journey of rock in Nashville' — captures spoil removal in action, a routine but telling sign that the Music City Loop is advancing on schedule.
Where the Project Stands
Construction on the Music City Loop kicked off in earnest on February 25, 2026 — the same evening that joint state and federal approval came through from the Tennessee Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. The Boring Company's Prufrock tunneling machine was in the ground within hours of that green light, a pace that underscored the company's stated goal of compressing the gap between approval and breaking ground.
The launch site near the State Capitol (known as Lot 16) was designed to support two TBMs. By late 2025, the conveyor system for spoil removal had been fully installed and calibrated — the same system visible in Monday's update. That infrastructure is what allows excavated rock to move continuously out of the tunnel bore, and its smooth operation is a prerequisite for hitting the project's aggressive timeline.
The Numbers Behind the Dig
The Music City Loop is a genuinely ambitious undertaking by any measure. According to The Boring Company's project filings, the system will span almost 13 miles, connecting downtown Nashville and Lower Broadway to West End Avenue and Nashville International Airport. The initial phase — a roughly 10-mile underground tunnel from the State Capitol to BNA — is targeted for completion by late 2026, with the full route expected to be operational by 2029.
Each tunnel will carry a 12-foot internal diameter and run at approximately 30 feet below the surface, with parallel one-way bores handling traffic in each direction. Passengers will travel in dedicated Tesla vehicles — initially Model Ys and Model Xs operated by trained drivers — with an estimated downtown-to-airport travel time of 8 to 10 minutes.
On cost, The Boring Company has stated it can build all 13 miles of twin tunnels for between $240 million and $300 million, entirely with private funding. No Tennessee taxpayer dollars are involved.
Regulatory Groundwork
The project cleared its most significant regulatory hurdles in rapid succession earlier this year. The Metro Nashville Airport Authority voted 7-0 in favor in February, followed by the joint TDOT/FHWA approval days later. In March, the Convention Center Authority granted an easement along the west side of the Music City Center property. As of late 2025, 27 of 45 required permits had been secured, with 10 more under active review.
That permitting momentum — combined with the footage now emerging from the dig itself — suggests the project is tracking closer to the optimistic end of its timeline. The first operational segment remains targeted for late 2026, which would make Nashville one of the earliest cities outside Las Vegas to have a functioning Boring Company loop in service.
David covers the EV industry, regulatory developments, and accessory ecosystem. 15+ years writing about consumer tech. Based in London.
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