Elon Musk’s tunneling firm, ‘The Boring Company’, is offering to build a 1-mile (1.6 km) tunnel for free. But there is a catch. This free tunnel will be given to the best idea out there.
Earlier today, The Boring Company announced a contest on Musk’s social media platform X with an official press release on its website. This is an open contest called the ‘Tunnel Vision Challenge’.
“Anyone want a free tunnel?” Musk asked on X.
The Boring Company wrote on X:
Announcing the Tunnel Vision Challenge! Pitch us your best 1-mile tunnel idea (Loop, freight, pedestrian, utility, etc.), we’ll pick a winner, and build it…for free!
Musk’s tunneling company threw an open challenge to build the next best free 1-mile tunnel. The Boring Company’s tunnel boring machines (TBM) have a 12-foot diameter.
If your proposed project solves a traffic congestion problem with a 1-mile and 12-foot inner diameter tunnel. Individuals, businesses, and governments can submit their ideas and proposals to The Boring Company via email at [email protected].
The due date for submission of the Tunnel Vision proposals is February 23, 2026. The Boring Company will announce the winner on March 23, 2026 (read more details and terms and conditions on the official website).
1-Mile Tunneling Cost (United States)
Musk founded The Boring Company in an effort to reduce tunneling costs. To achieve this, the diameter of the tunnel boring machines (TBMs) was reduced to 12 feet.
Following the same principle of constant improvement, The Boring Company continually upgrades its TBMs. The latest TBM is named Prufrock 5 (pictured above).
With the previous version (Prufrock 4), The Boring Company achieved a phenomenal tunneling cost efficiency of $27 million per mile. Musk’s company is aiming to achieve a cost of $10 million per mile of tunneling with Prufrock 5 and its future TBMs.
Compared to the US standard, boring a 1-mile tunnel costs a staggering $2.5 billion on average (see graph below). So, the Tunnel Vision Challenge is offering at least a $27 million value for free.
Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) Tunnel Loop
The best example of a finished tunnel by The Boring Company is the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) loop. In this loop, Tesla vehicles pick up and drop off the LVCC visitors inside and out of the building.
Tesla Model S, 3, X, Y, and the Cybertruck provide this pick and drop service. The tunnel helps visitors reduce their time to reach their desired venue inside the convention center while avoiding traffic jams.
In collaboration with the LAS Airport, various Las Vegas authorities have set up a service called Vegas Loop that assists visitors with airport drop-offs.
Similar tunneling projects have a higher probability of winning The Boring Company’s Tunnel Vision free tunneling project. Let us know your thoughts in the comments box below.
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