Elon Musk’s Boring Company tunnels face strong opposition from Nashville residents

When Elon Musk's Boring Company revealed plans in July to construct 20 miles of tunnels in Nashville for transporting passengers between downtown and the airport in Tesla cars, Republican Governor Bill Lee hailed the project as "transformative."

But after eight months, local support seems to have waned.

A recent poll by Vanderbilt University, located in Nashville, shows that 51% of local residents disapprove of the proposed Music City Loop when aware of Musk's involvement.

"The public's backing for Elon Musk's tunnel initiative is strongly tied to political affiliation," Vanderbilt noted on its website about the survey.

Local resistance to the project increased from 35% to 51% "when Musk's name is directly cited in the query."

Musk became a well-known and polarizing political figure in 2024 after spending around $300 million helping Donald Trump return to the presidency.

In the early days of Trump’s second term, Musk also focused on reducing the size of the federal government and cutting significant programs.

Earlier this month, Metro Nashville Council made a formal decision against supporting the Music City Loop.

Nevertheless, the Republican leadership in the state has permitted Musk’s company to tunnel under state roads within the city.

Tennessee is currently considering a bill that might allow the state to charge fees for undertakings like these, directing federal transit funds towards projects favored by the state.

The proposed law, if passed, could further empower the state and project managers to govern underground transit systems, limiting the ability of cities like Nashville to tackle fire hazards, emergencies, workplace safety, or pollution issues.

Nashville's city council members and community members opposing the Music City Loop have voiced concerns about The Boring Company's history during public meetings.

As mentioned by ProPublica in previous reports using public documents, when Musk's company built the "loop" at the Las Vegas Convention Center, it incurred a "remarkable number of infractions," including missed inspections, unauthorized construction, water contamination, and worker injuries.

Those who advocated for The Boring Company at public forums highlighted the Music City Loop's promise to generate construction jobs in Nashville, with hopes that the tunnels will reduce traffic congestion in the area.