Elon Musk's futuristic tunnel under LA might solve traffic problems

It's been two years since Elon Musk announced his tunneling venture to solve the traffic woes of Los Angeles. The two mile test tunnel is ready to be unveiled underneath Hawthorne, California. The test run will expose people for the first time to the elevator which will bring them to the surface and also the vehicles to be used. Here are the details of the futuristic mass-transit venture.

Inspiration for the project

Musk revealed through tweets how the traffic in Los Angeles was getting onto his nerves. "Am going to build a tunnel boring machine and just start digging." he had tweeted. He wants to create a 3D underground network to ease traffic on the roads

The first segment of the tunnel

Elon Musk, also known as the giant tunneller revealed through a tweet that the first segment of the tunnel is ready. It will be unveiled underneath Hawthorne in California extending from  SpaceX's headquarters to Hawthorne Boulevard.

Another boring day at work

Musk bought a large tunnel digging machine and excavators have been hard at work. The Boring Company has been busy digging. They started by digging a test trench measuring 30ft wide, 50 ft long, and 15 ft deep at SpaceX's headquarters.

The idea of a Hyperloop

If the tunnel is a success, the Hyperloop train would also become a reality. It would be an unimaginable alternative to California's high-speed rail project with levitating pods and tubes running at the speed of sound.

The test tunnel

The test tunnel will be used for research and development and while the construction has been going on for two years, Hawthorne residents have seen or heard little about it. The elements of construction have been confined to two private properties and it has been a hushed project.

The unveiling is supposed to be a lot of fun. A medieval-style watch tower has been constructed at its exit. The entry fee of the tunnel was announced to be $1 after free entry for day one but if the project really kicks off, it will be an expensive ride. Musk calls the unveiling a 'product launch' and will include ground to tunnel car elevators too