After the successful launch of some big rockets, SpaceX founder Elon Musk wants to find a cheaper, quicker way of boring tunnels to improve the traffic condition in big cities. And to help Musk in his endeavor, Hawthorne City Council has given Musk’s Boring Company permission to dig a 1.6-mile tunnel in LA.

Boring Company shares office space with SpaceX in Hawthorne, California

So far, Musk has not revealed much about his mysterious tunneling project or about his eight-month-old Boring Company. But earlier this year, he posted a tweet raising concern about increasing traffic in Los Angeles.

He also pledged to "build a tunnel boring machine,” according wired. He soon founded this new company which currently shares office space with SpaceX in Hawthorne, California.

The Boring Company has now got approval from Hawthorne City Council for digging a test tunnel in the city. The council voted four to one in favor of company's tunnel test.

Godot machine has already dug a test trench

Some months back, Musk bought a used boring machine for the digging work, and named it Godot. This machine has already dug a 160 feet x 16 feet test trench under parking garage of SpaceX. Initial results made Musk happy, so he decided to extend this tunnel experiment. Now his Boring Company has got permission from the city council to extend the tunnel beyond its private space.

The company now needs an “encroachment permit” from authorities to start digging. This permit is required for carrying out excavation work in the city.

New tunnel will run 44 feet below the surface

The company says the new tunnel will run 44 feet below the surface, and will not go under any privately-owned commercial and residential property other than that owned by SpaceX.

It has assured that the tunnel work won't disturb traffic in the city. People won’t notice any construction work on the roads or hear and feel any of the digging. The council has also been assured that thorough testing of soil will be done, and the results will be revealed to people on a day-to-day basis. The goal is to make the tunnel without causing any disturbance to people.

The company will also ensure that surface level never moves while digging is in process. If it is observed that ground has moved even half-inch, the work will be stopped immediately and will resume only after a solution is found.

After the test tunnel is finished, the city can request the Boring Company to fill it with soil or concrete slurry.
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