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Boring Test Tunnel

The R&D Tunnel, also called the Hawthorne Test Tunnel or Boring Test Tunnel, is a 1.14 miles (1.83 km) tunnel in Hawthorne, California, for testing hyperloop and "loop-based transportation".[3] It was completed by The Boring Company in late 2018. The single-bore tunnel was constructed during 2017 and 2018 using a 14-foot (4.2 m) diameter tunnel boring machine, giving a finished 12-foot (3.8 m) internal diameter.

Overview

  • The R&D Tunnel
  • Hawthorne Test Tunnel

SpaceX Parking Lot

3

December 17, 2016

December 18, 2018 (2018-12-18)

Limited access

1.14 mi; 6,000 ft
(1.83 km)[1]

1

127 mph (205 km/h)[2]

12.5 feet (3.8 m)

Timeline[edit]

On December 17, 2016, Elon Musk, the founder of the Boring Company, stated that he was frustrated with traffic jams, and would start building a tunnel.[6] By April 2017, The Boring Company had obtained a second-hand tunnel boring machine, transported the machine to Hawthorne, and had it repainted in Boring Company colors.[7]


On January 31, 2018, The Boring Company acquired the land around a family house at 3834 West 119th Place for $500,000.[8] On May 9, 2018, The Boring Company acquired land on the corner of West 120th and Prairie Avenue for $2 million, purchasing the corner plots 309 and 308 at 12007 Prairie Avenue[9] And Plots 304‒307 behind.[10]


On October 5, 2018, the Hawthorne City Council granted an easement for up to 2,600 meters (8,600 ft) of tunnel, in exchange for a structural encroachment fee of $2.5 million. Permission for the first 210 meters (700 ft) of tunnel under SpaceX's own land had been obtained earlier.[11]


On October 17, 2018, in preparation for opening "The Brick Store", the company applied for permission to paint the building at 12003 Prairie Avenue in The Boring Company black-and-white corporate colors.[12]


An opening ceremony for the test tunnel was originally scheduled for December 10, 2018,[13] then moved to December 18, 2018.[14]

Operation[edit]

During the launch day on December 18, 2018, cars operated using guided busway-style side-facing guide wheels. This fleet of Tesla Model X vehicles traveled at up to 40 miles per hour (65 km/h).[15]

Official website