Boring test tunnel
{{Update|Article|date=January 2023}}
{{short description|Tunnel for testing Loop-based transportation}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox tunnel
| name = Boring test tunnel
| official_name =
| other_name = {{Flatlist|
- The R&D Tunnel
- Hawthorne test tunnel
}}
| image = Bypassing the LA Rush Hour Commute, at 116 MPH, underground (48108766806).jpg
| location = Hawthorne, California, U.S.
| coordinates = {{plainlist|
- {{coord|33.9218|-118.326|dim:50_type:landmark|display=inline,title|name=Entrance shaft|}}
- {{coord|33.92383|-118.3407|dim:50_type:landmark|display=inline|name=Garage elevator}}
- {{coord|33.9234|-118.3444|dim:50_type:landmark|display=inline|name=Exit tunnel}}
}}
| route = West 120th Street
| start = SpaceX Parking Lot
| startwork = December 17, 2016
| opens = {{start date|2018|12|18}}
| operator = The Boring Company
| character = Limited access
| length = {{convert|1.83|km|mi ft|abbr=on|disp=br()|sigfig=3|sp=us|order=flip}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/12/19/18148061/boring-tunnel-test-drive-hawthorne-tesla-elon-musk|title=I took a ride through Elon Musk's new tunnel in California|first=Elizabeth|last=Lopatto|date=December 19, 2018|accessdate=December 19, 2018|quote=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|archive-date=December 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220231741/https://www.theverge.com/2018/12/19/18148061/boring-tunnel-test-drive-hawthorne-tesla-elon-musk|url-status=live}}
| lanes = 1
| width = {{convert|12.5|ft|m|sp=us}}
| stations = 3
}}
{{Elon Musk series}}
The R&D Tunnel, also called the Hawthorne test tunnel or Boring test tunnel, is a {{Convert|1.14|mile}} tunnel in Hawthorne, California, for testing hyperloop and "loop-based transportation".{{Cite news|url=https://www.boringcompany.com/projects/|title=The Boring Company Projects page: 2020 |publisher=The Boring Company |date=11 November 2020 |access-date=November 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111175424/https://www.boringcompany.com/projects/|archive-date=November 11, 2020|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}} It was completed by The Boring Company in late 2018. The single-bore tunnel was constructed during 2017 and 2018 using a {{convert|4.2|m|adj=on|sp=us|order=flip}} diameter tunnel boring machine, giving a finished {{convert|3.8|m|adj=on|sp=us|order=flip}} internal diameter.
Route
{{Boring test tunnel}}
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.{{cite report|url=http://hawthorne-ca.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=&event_id=465&meta_id=32264|title=Agenda Item No. 6|publisher=City of Hawthorne City Council|series=Agenda Bill|date=August 22, 2017|first1=Arnold|last1=Shadbehr|first2=Russ|last2=Miyahira|page=42|quote=strip of land {{convert|15|feet|m|sigfig=2|sp=us}} wide … beginning of a non-tangent curve concave south westerly and having a radius of {{convert|530.00|feet|m|sigfig=4|sp=us}} … {{convert|13.56|feet|m|sigfig=1|sp=us}} southerly of the 120th Street centerline … thence tangent to said curve … parallel with and distant southerly a distance of {{convert|7721.21|feet|m|sigfig=3|sp=us}} to a point of terminus|access-date=November 8, 2018|archive-date=September 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904161031/http://hawthorne-ca.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=&event_id=465&meta_id=32264|url-status=live}}
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 {{convert|530|ft|m|sigfig=4|adj=mid|-radius|sp=us}} 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 is 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.{{cite report|url=http://hawthorne-ca.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=541&meta_id=35798|title=Agenda Item No. 9|publisher=City of Hawthorne City Council|series=Agenda Bill|date=September 11, 2018|first1=Arnold|last1=Shadbehr|first2=Brian|last2=James|author3=Planning & Community Development|format=Planning report|access-date=November 7, 2018|archive-date=November 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181124225345/http://hawthorne-ca.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=541&meta_id=35798|url-status=live}}
Timeline
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.{{cite twitter|number=810108760010043392|date=December 17, 2016|first=Elon|last=Musk|authorlink=Elon Musk|user=elonmusk|title=Traffic is driving me nuts. Am going to build a tunnel boring machine and just start digging...}} 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.{{cite news|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-launches-boring-company-to-dig-tunnels-2017-4|title=We just got our first glimpse of Elon Musk's new tunnel company|first=Danielle|last=Muoio|date=April 27, 2017|work=Business News|access-date=November 7, 2018|archive-date=November 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127225720/http://uk.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-launches-boring-company-to-dig-tunnels-2017-4|url-status=live}}
On January 31, 2018, The Boring Company acquired the land around a family house at 3834 West 119th Place for $500,000.{{cite report|url=https://portal.assessor.lacounty.gov/parceldetail/4048011032|title=Parcel detail: 4048-011-032|publisher=Los Angeles County|work=Assessor Portal|quote=3834 {{abbr|W 119TH PL|West 119th Place}} Hawthorne {{abbr|CA|California}} 90250-3226 … TR=2603 E {{abbr|60 FT EX OF ST|60 Feet extent of street}} of Lot 822 … {{abbr|Doc #|Document number}} 0104467 … {{abbr|DTT|Documentary Transfer Tax}} Sale Price: $485,004|date=January 31, 2018|access-date=November 22, 2018|archive-date=March 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302072716/https://portal.assessor.lacounty.gov/parceldetail/4048011032|url-status=live}} 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{{cite report|url=https://portal.assessor.lacounty.gov/parceldetail/4046008027|title=Parcel detail: 4046-008-027|publisher=Los Angeles County|work=Assessor Portal|quote=12007 Prairie {{abbr|Ave|Avenue}}, Hawthorne {{abbr|CA|California}} 90250-3107 … Corner Lot: Yes … *TR=Second {{abbr|add|addition}} to Hawthorne*({{abbr|ex of st|extent of street}}) Lot 308 and ({{abbr|ex of sts|extent of streets}}) Lot 309 … {{abbr|Doc #|Document number}} 0456481 … {{abbr|DTT|Documentary Transfer Tax}} Sale Price: $1,995,019|date=May 9, 2018|access-date=November 22, 2018|archive-date=November 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111222525/https://portal.assessor.lacounty.gov/parceldetail/4046008027|url-status=live}} And Plots 304‒307 behind.{{cite report|url=https://portal.assessor.lacounty.gov/parceldetail/4046008028|title=Parcel detail: 4046-008-028|publisher=Los Angeles County|work=Assessor Portal|quote=4012 {{abbr|W 120th St|West 120th Street}}, Hawthorne {{abbr|CA|California}} 90250-3107 … Corner Lot: No … M B 9-160 {{abbr|ex of st|extent of street}} Lots 304 Thru 307 … {{abbr|Doc #|Document number}} 0456481 … {{abbr|DTT|Documentary Transfer Tax}} Sale Price: $1,995,019|date=May 9, 2018|access-date=November 22, 2018|archive-date=March 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302071311/https://portal.assessor.lacounty.gov/parceldetail/4046008028|url-status=live}}
On October 5, 2018, the Hawthorne City Council granted an easement for up to {{convert|8600|ft|disp=flip|sp=us}} of tunnel, in exchange for a structural encroachment fee of $2.5 million. Permission for the first {{convert|700|ft|disp=flip|sp=us}} of tunnel under SpaceX's own land had been obtained earlier.{{cite report|url=https://static1.squarespace.com/static/52ec83cee4b032691e28b3ce/t/5a12fb39f9619a64a208be69/1511193402172/cc_cou-min-100517spl.pdf|title=Minutes of a Special Meeting of the City Council|publisher=City of Hawthorne|date=October 5, 2017|first=Norbert|last=Huber|access-date=November 7, 2018|archive-date=November 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122172404/https://static1.squarespace.com/static/52ec83cee4b032691e28b3ce/t/5a12fb39f9619a64a208be69/1511193402172/cc_cou-min-100517spl.pdf|url-status=live}}
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.{{cite report|url=http://hawthorne-ca.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=554&meta_id=36307|title=Administrative Color Approval – The Brick Store|publisher=Hawthorne Planning Commission|format=staff report|quote=Project Location: 12003 Prairie Avenue (APN # 4046-008-027) … Project Applicant: The Boring Company|date=October 17, 2018|first1=Brian|last1=James|first2=Christopher|last2=Palmer|access-date=November 10, 2018|archive-date=February 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190226211516/http://hawthorne-ca.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=554&meta_id=36307|url-status=live}}
An opening ceremony for the test tunnel was originally scheduled for December 10, 2018,{{cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/10/22/elon-musk-rapid-transit-test-tunnel-under-la-opens-to-public-dec-10.html|title=Rapid-transit test tunnel under LA will open to the public on December 10, Elon Musk says|date=October 22, 2018|work=CNBC|first=Ed|last=Brackett|access-date=November 7, 2018|archive-date=February 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227134745/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/10/22/elon-musk-rapid-transit-test-tunnel-under-la-opens-to-public-dec-10.html|url-status=live}} then moved to December 18, 2018.{{cite twitter|number=1070826130637230081|user=boringcompany|author=The Boring Company|date=December 6, 2018|accessdate=December 13, 2018|title=Tunnel opening now set for . Need another few days to finish the snail habitat. More details soon!}}
Operation
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 {{convert|40|mph|kph|round=5|order=|sp=us}}.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/12/19/18148061/boring-tunnel-test-drive-hawthorne-tesla-elon-musk|title=I took a ride through Elon Musk's new tunnel in California|last=Lopatto|first=Elizabeth|date=2018-12-19|website=The Verge|language=en|access-date=2020-04-18|archive-date=December 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220231741/https://www.theverge.com/2018/12/19/18148061/boring-tunnel-test-drive-hawthorne-tesla-elon-musk|url-status=live}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|https://www.boringcompany.com/rd-tunnel}}
- {{OSM relation|8902972}}
- {{cite video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAZBDVx1_Lk|title=Boring Company tunnel presentation before Hawthorne City Council|date=August 8, 2017|via=YouTube}}
- {{cite video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0vkv-XclUg|title=Elon Musk and Gayle King test drive his new Boring Company tunnel|work=CBS This Morning|authorlink=Gayle King|first=Gayle|last=King|date=December 19, 2019|via=Youtube}}
- {{cite video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdsgvB_MMi0|work=CBNC News|authorlink=Philip J. LeBeau|first=Phil|last=LeBeau|date=December 19, 2018|title=Elon Musk unveils Boring Company loop tunnel for electric cars|quote=}}
{{Elon Musk}}
Category:Tunnels in Los Angeles
Category:Transportation buildings and structures in Los Angeles
Category:Road tunnels in California
Category:2018 establishments in California