Metro Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s office has sent more than 60 questions to Elon Musk’s Boring Company regarding its proposed “Music City Loop,” a high‑speed tunnel connecting downtown Nashville to Nashville International Airport — reports The Tennessee Lookout.
The letter focuses heavily on emergency response planning, safety permitting, and how the tunnel would fit into Nashville’s broader transportation network. The inquiries come after Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Boring Company President Steve Davis unveiled the project last week, confirming that tunneling would start from a state‑owned parking lot near the Capitol.
The Tennessee Building Commission has already approved a no‑cost lease for the launch site, with the state planning to grant long‑term underground right‑of‑way access in exchange for construction of the loop.
O’Connell’s administration is seeking clarity on everything from ownership, liability, and financing to the tunnel’s impact on existing sewer and storm infrastructure. The mayor’s letter also raises operational concerns, including ventilation for smoke or gas in the event of a battery fire, wireless coverage for 911 calls, and how emergency vehicles would access the narrow tunnel.
Referencing Boring Company’s Las Vegas Loop, O’Connell asks whether Nashville will require similar measures to keep pedestrians out of the tunnel, address potential flooding, and prevent unhoused individuals from entering. The mayor also questions how the project will coordinate with future airport transportation improvements and the Murfreesboro Road corridor plan.
While state officials claim a line of credit has been secured to protect against project failure, Metro leaders want details on who will operate the tunnel, whether it will generate a profit, and what will happen if it does not. An environmental review and opportunities for community input were also requested.
