Is the Boring Company tunneling blind in Nashville? Experts warn rock tests fall short
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UI) — Elon Musk’s Boring Company is pressing ahead with plans for a tunnel between downtown Nashville and the airport but has drawn criticism for its limited geological testing. The company has so far scheduled only five soil borings along the route, according to WPLN News.
Industry standards suggest far more are needed. The Tennessee Department of Transportation recommends soil samples every 200 feet for projects cutting through rock — which would mean about 250 borings for a project of this scale. Nashville’s karst geology, made up of fractured limestone riddled with caves and underground streams, increases the risk of sinkholes and water pollution without extensive advance testing.
City officials have already raised concerns. In July, Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s office questioned how the company would handle the city’s complex geology. In a written response earlier this month, the Boring Company said it was conducting “detailed geotechnical investigations and utility surveys” to understand the limestone conditions and avoid conflicts with underground infrastructure.
Still, records show the company has moved quickly into construction activity, including digs for utility poles and a massive pit estimated at more than 100 feet wide. Experts told WPLN News the lack of comprehensive sampling means tunneling could proceed with limited knowledge of what lies beneath the city’s surface.
Without more data, the Boring Company could be effectively tunneling blindly under Nashville: a prospect that geologists and engineers warn carries significant risk.
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