Prime Highlights:
- The Boring Company is studying a tunnel connecting I-80 to Tesla’s Gigafactory to ease traffic and improve safety.
- The project could offer a new transportation option and better access to one of Nevada’s largest industrial hubs.
Key Facts:
- EDAWN paid $50,000 for a feasibility study and conceptual designs for the tunnel.
- Officials support exploring private solutions, but the project has not been officially approved.
Background:
Elon Musk’s tunneling startup, The Boring Company, is studying a potential tunnel project connecting Reno’s Interstate 80 to Tesla’s Gigafactory, according to recently obtained documents. The company is working with the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (EDAWN), which paid $50,000 in October for conceptual designs and a feasibility report on a new transportation alternative to the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center, the massive business hub that houses Tesla and other major companies.
The potential tunnel is one of several solutions being explored to address rising traffic and accidents along Interstate 80, which has grown increasingly congested as new data centers and businesses establish themselves in the 107,000-acre industrial complex east of Reno and Sparks.
Tesla and Panasonic, the two largest tenants in the center, have been in discussions with the Nevada Governor’s Office since last year regarding transportation solutions. Both companies are also supporting an ongoing commuter rail study that would run parallel to the interstate along existing freight rail lines.
Details of the tunnel study, such as its cost, length, and the types of vehicles it would carry, are still unknown. The Boring Company is very interested in the project. The company is known for its single-lane tunnels for electric vehicles and has built a small tunnel under the Las Vegas Convention Center. Expanding tunnels beyond Las Vegas has faced safety, environmental, and approval challenges.
The Reno tunnel idea is still new, and only a few people are involved. If built, the tunnel could make I-80 safer and improve access for businesses and commuters.
