Elon Musk Begins Tunnel Project To Solve Traffic Issue, Baby Steps First

Traffic is a problem that residents of every major city have had to contend with, but this issue is more problematic in a metropolis like Los Angeles where traffic jams can literally last hours. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has had enough and intends to dig tunnels in order to solve the traffic issue. As of now, he is starting small.

Musk has been talking about his plans to create a boring company since December, which is meant to dig tunnels under cities in order to alleviate the burden of traffic on the population. In a Tweet sent to The Verge, the tech billionaire expressed just how strongly he feels about this issue.

“Without tunnels, we will all be in traffic hell forever,” the Tweet reads. “I really do think tunnels are the key to solving urban gridlock. Being stuck in traffic is soul-destroying. Self-driving cars will actually make it worse by making vehicle travel more affordable.”

Musk didn’t provide specifics as to how exactly he plans to accomplish this plan, but he is already putting at least a part of it into motion. For example, a tunnel is currently being dug under the property of the SpaceX campus, which will allow employees to get from the offices to the parking lot. It’s not exactly the traffic solution that Musk hinted at, Business Insider reports, but it’s a start.

The Tesla CEO has been working with Los Angeles city officials in order to get the project underway, which should prove a viable testing ground with regards to how feasible giant tunnels are for solving the traffic problem. It would appear that since the project will be starting in SpaceX property, permits are not necessary.

However, digging a tunnel beyond Interstate 105 would definitely come with more paperwork. When asked if they have been approached by Musk or representatives from his companies about the matter, both the California Department of Transportation and the city’s permit office said they have not.