With the Tesla Gigafactory fully established in Austin and now Elon Musk’s, The Boring Company, settling its headquarters in Pflugerville, exciting new developments are coming to the area. With numerous Tesla projects on the horizon, there has been heaps of speculation about the intended use of some of Musk’s more recent proposals.
Upcoming Projects
Since first relocating to Pflugerville in December of 2020, The Boring Company has launched full force into discussions with the state and municipal governments to start development on multiple projects. Until recently, it had seemed as though little was moving forward.
Private Access Tunnel
On June 21, The Boring Company quietly filed a proposal for a “private access tunnel” under the name “Colorado River Connector Tunnel.”
While there is very little information about this private access tunnel that would be dug under the Tesla Gigafactory in Austin, the idea of underground tunnels running across Texas is not a newly proposed one.
Pedestrian Traffic Tunnel
The Boring Company, in collaboration with Tesla, has been clear about its goals in digging transit tunnels in cities across the country. These developments would dramatically help in the process of alleviating traffic congestion while simultaneously freeing up real estate that was previously dedicated to surface highways and roads. Boring was recently approved for its tunnel expansion in Las Vegas and beginning development of a pedestrian tunnel in the south Austin suburb, Kyle.
The proposed tunnel would connect Plum Creek, the 2,200-acre residential development housing over 5,000 properties, with Kyle Crossing, the retail development located at Interstate 35 and FM 1626. In its filing for this pedestrian tunnel, The Boring Company also received approval for a $50,000 professional services agreement for a feasibility study as its initial steps.
Loop System
Knowing Tesla and The Boring Company’s track record, a plan is always hiding in the framework. These projects, alongside many other developments expected from The Boring Company, will work cohesively in enhancing the traffic system in the Austin area. One such overarching project was a loop system. This project would connect downtown Austin and the airport with Tesla Gigafactory Texas.
Some informants following the development of this upcoming project have speculated that it could be part of Musk’s plans to transform the land near his Texas Gigafactory into an “ecological paradise.” His original remarks on this project are as follows: “It’s about 2,000 acres and we’re going to make it a factory that is going to be stunning. It’s right on the Colorado River. So we’re actually going to have a boardwalk, where there’ll be a hiking/biking trail. It’s going to basically be an ecological paradise, birds in the trees, butterflies, fish in the stream, and it’ll be open to the public as well.”
Whether these private and pedestrian tunnel projects are elements of the proposed tunnel systems, a connection to Musk’s “ecological paradise,” or something else entirely, this is exciting news.
Moving Forward
While there is only speculation at this point with many of these developments, news of a filing for this private access tunnel could mean that things are getting underway. Projects like these will contribute immensely to Austin’s continued growth by providing easy, unclogged transportation. Keep your eyes open, Austin is about to become a central hub, linking the rest of the state together.
Feel free to contact me at [email protected] for any questions about these developments or if you’re curious about other exciting news happening in the Austin area.
