Wikipedia

Hawthorne test tunnel

The Hawthorne test tunnel, or Boring test tunnel, is a 1.14 miles (1.83 km) tunnel in Hawthorne, California, intended for testing “tunneling and public transportation systems”,[2] constructed between 2016 and 2018.[3][4] It was accompanied by a mile-long aboveground tube on nearby Jack Northrop Ave designed for testing hyperloop and loop-based transportation, which was used for student competitions in 2018 and 2019 before being dismantled in 2022.[5][6]

Boring test tunnel
Map
Interactive map of Boring test tunnel
Overview
Other names
  • The R&D Tunnel
  • Boring test tunnel
LocationHawthorne, California, U.S.
Coordinates
RouteWest 120th Street
StartSpaceX Parking Lot
Operation
Work beganDecember 17, 2016
OpenedDecember 18, 2018 (2018-12-18)
OperatorThe Boring Company
CharacterLimited access
Technical
Length1.14 mi; 6,000 ft
(1.83 km)[1]
No. of lanes1
Width12.5 feet (3.8 m)

Description

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The single-bore tunnel was constructed during using a 14-foot (4.2 m) diameter tunnel boring machine, giving a finished 12-foot (3.8 m) internal diameter. The roadway has an asphalt surface, with autonomous vehicle operation of the Tesla Model 3 at speeds of 90 mph (140 km/h) and up to 116 mph (187 km/h) under human control.[7] The Boring Company subsequently built the Las Vegas Convention Center Loop tunnel network.

Route

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Boring test tunnel
Legend
km
West 120th Street
2.6
Hawthorne Boulevard
Permitted extension (not built)
4012 West 120th Street
12003 Prairie Avenue
/ Exit
1.8
Prairie Avenue
Interstate 105
1.5
3834 West 119th Place
Spur/Test elevator
/ Garage
Hawthorne Municipal Airport
1.0
Dominguez Channel
SpaceX factory
0.2
Crenshaw Boulevard
0.0
 SpaceX entrance shaft
Dominguez Channel

Most of the route runs outside and set back from the perimeter of Hawthorne Municipal Airport, with a very short section under the corner of the airport fence, without going under the runway.[8]

The tunnel starts between the Dominguez Channel storm drain and Crenshaw Boulevard at an entrance pit constructed on parking lot land owned by SpaceX. A short straight section heading northwards is followed by a 530-foot-radius (161.5 m) curve westwards under West 120th Street, then a long straight tunnel, a slight curve and a final short straight to the Exit Shaft. The midpoint of the tunnel was planned to connect with a very short northwards spur to a small car parking system-style car elevator leading up inside a residential garage behind a house at 3834 West 119th Place.[9]

Timeline

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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.[10] 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.[11]

On January 31, 2018, The Boring Company acquired the land around a family house at 3834 West 119th Place for $500,000.[12] 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[13] And Plots 304‒307 behind.[14]

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.[15]

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.[16]

An opening ceremony for the test tunnel was originally scheduled for December 10, 2018,[17] then moved to December 18, 2018.[18]

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).[19]

References

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  1. ↑ Lopatto, Elizabeth (December 19, 2018). "I took a ride through Elon Musk's new tunnel in California". Archived from the original on December 20, 2018. Retrieved December 19, 2018. top speed is 40 miles per hour … 1.14 mile tunnel … one-mile test tunnel … year and a half to complete, … about $10 million, not counting research and development
  2. ↑ "Test Tunnel". The Boring Company. November 12, 2020. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
  3. ↑ Artsy, Avishay (December 8, 2022). "Elon Musk's tunnels to nowhere". Vox. Retrieved August 7, 2025. In late 2016 … bought a machine and started boring a tunnel
  4. ↑ McFarland, Matt (December 19, 2018). "Elon Musk's first tunnel is finished. Here's what it's like to ride in it". CNN Business. Retrieved August 7, 2025. In 2016, a frustrated Musk said he planned to start digging tunnels … Now the joke has turned into something very real.
  5. ↑ Hawkins, Andrew J. (November 3, 2022). "Elon Musk's first Hyperloop tunnel in California is gone". Archived from the original on January 19, 2025. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
  6. ↑ Hart, Jordan. "Elon Musk's futuristic Hyperloop prototype tube has been removed from its place near SpaceX's California headquarters". Business Insider. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  7. ↑ Watch Tesla Model 3 go through Elon Musk's Boring Company now paved tunnel at 116 mph Archived June 22, 2019, at the Wayback Machine, 21 June 2019. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
  8. ↑ Shadbehr, Arnold; Miyahira, Russ (August 22, 2017). Agenda Item No. 6 (Report). Agenda Bill. City of Hawthorne City Council. p. 42. Archived from the original on September 4, 2017. Retrieved November 8, 2018. strip of land 15 feet (4.6 m) wide … beginning of a non-tangent curve concave south westerly and having a radius of 530.00 feet (161.5 m) … 13.56 feet (4 m) southerly of the 120th Street centerline … thence tangent to said curve … parallel with and distant southerly a distance of 7,721.21 feet (2,350 m) to a point of terminus
  9. ↑ Shadbehr, Arnold; James, Brian; Planning & Community Development (September 11, 2018). Agenda Item No. 9 (Planning report) (Report). Agenda Bill. City of Hawthorne City Council. Archived from the original on November 24, 2018. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
  10. ↑ Musk, Elon [@elonmusk] (December 17, 2016). "Traffic is driving me nuts. Am going to build a tunnel boring machine and just start digging..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  11. ↑ Muoio, Danielle (April 27, 2017). "We just got our first glimpse of Elon Musk's new tunnel company". Business News. Archived from the original on November 27, 2018. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
  12. ↑ Parcel detail: 4048-011-032. Assessor Portal (Report). Los Angeles County. January 31, 2018. Archived from the original on March 2, 2021. Retrieved November 22, 2018. 3834 W 119TH PL Hawthorne CA 90250-3226 … TR=2603 E 60 FT EX OF ST of Lot 822 … Doc # 0104467 … DTT Sale Price: $485,004
  13. ↑ Parcel detail: 4046-008-027. Assessor Portal (Report). Los Angeles County. May 9, 2018. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2018. 12007 Prairie Ave, Hawthorne CA 90250-3107 … Corner Lot: Yes … *TR=Second add to Hawthorne*(ex of st) Lot 308 and (ex of sts) Lot 309 … Doc # 0456481 … DTT Sale Price: $1,995,019
  14. ↑ Parcel detail: 4046-008-028. Assessor Portal (Report). Los Angeles County. May 9, 2018. Archived from the original on March 2, 2021. Retrieved November 22, 2018. 4012 W 120th St, Hawthorne CA 90250-3107 … Corner Lot: No … M B 9-160 ex of st Lots 304 Thru 307 … Doc # 0456481 … DTT Sale Price: $1,995,019
  15. ↑ Huber, Norbert (October 5, 2017). Minutes of a Special Meeting of the City Council (PDF) (Report). City of Hawthorne. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 22, 2018. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
  16. ↑ James, Brian; Palmer, Christopher (October 17, 2018). Administrative Color Approval – The Brick Store (staff report) (Report). Hawthorne Planning Commission. Archived from the original on February 26, 2019. Retrieved November 10, 2018. Project Location: 12003 Prairie Avenue (APN # 4046-008-027) … Project Applicant: The Boring Company
  17. ↑ Brackett, Ed (October 22, 2018). "Rapid-transit test tunnel under LA will open to the public on December 10, Elon Musk says". CNBC. Archived from the original on February 27, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
  18. ↑ The Boring Company [@boringcompany] (December 6, 2018). "Tunnel opening now set for . Need another few days to finish the snail habitat. More details soon!" (Tweet). Retrieved December 13, 2018 – via Twitter.
  19. ↑ Lopatto, Elizabeth (December 19, 2018). "I took a ride through Elon Musk's new tunnel in California". The Verge. Archived from the original on December 20, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2020.

Further reading

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