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The R&D Tunnel, also called the Hawthorne test tunnel or Boring test tunnel, is a 1.14 miles (1.83 km) tunnel in Hawthorne, California, for testing hyperloop and "loop-based transportation".[3] It was completed by The Boring Company in late 2018. The single-bore tunnel was constructed during 2017 and 2018 using a 14-foot (4.2 m) diameter tunnel boring machine, giving a finished 12-foot (3.8 m) internal diameter.
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.[4]
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 530-foot-radius (161.5 m) 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.[5]
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.[6] 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.[7]
On January 31, 2018, The Boring Company acquired the land around a family house at 3834 West 119th Place for $500,000.[8] 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[9] And Plots 304‒307 behind.[10]
On October 5, 2018, the Hawthorne City Council granted an easement for up to 2,600 meters (8,600 ft) of tunnel, in exchange for a structural encroachment fee of $2.5 million. Permission for the first 210 meters (700 ft) of tunnel under SpaceX's own land had been obtained earlier.[11]
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.[12]
An opening ceremony for the test tunnel was originally scheduled for December 10, 2018,[13] then moved to December 18, 2018.[14]
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 40 miles per hour (65 km/h).[15]
References
^Lopatto, Elizabeth (December 19, 2018). "I took a ride through Elon Musk's new tunnel in California". Archived from the original on December 20, 2018. Retrieved December 19, 2018. 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
^Shadbehr, Arnold; Miyahira, Russ (August 22, 2017). Agenda Item No. 6 (Report). Agenda Bill. City of Hawthorne City Council. p. 42. Archived from the original on September 4, 2017. Retrieved November 8, 2018. strip of land 15 feet (4.6 m) wide … beginning of a non-tangent curve concave south westerly and having a radius of 530.00 feet (161.5 m) … 13.56 feet (4 m) southerly of the 120th Street centerline … thence tangent to said curve … parallel with and distant southerly a distance of 7,721.21 feet (2,350 m) to a point of terminus
^Shadbehr, Arnold; James, Brian; Planning & Community Development (September 11, 2018). Agenda Item No. 9(Planning report) (Report). Agenda Bill. City of Hawthorne City Council. Archived from the original on November 24, 2018. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
^Parcel detail: 4048-011-032. Assessor Portal (Report). Los Angeles County. January 31, 2018. Archived from the original on March 2, 2021. Retrieved November 22, 2018. 3834 W 119TH PL Hawthorne CA 90250-3226 … TR=2603 E 60 FT EX OF ST of Lot 822 … Doc # 0104467 … DTT Sale Price: $485,004
^Parcel detail: 4046-008-027. Assessor Portal (Report). Los Angeles County. May 9, 2018. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2018. 12007 Prairie Ave, Hawthorne CA 90250-3107 … Corner Lot: Yes … *TR=Second add to Hawthorne*(ex of st) Lot 308 and (ex of sts) Lot 309 … Doc # 0456481 … DTT Sale Price: $1,995,019
^Parcel detail: 4046-008-028. Assessor Portal (Report). Los Angeles County. May 9, 2018. Archived from the original on March 2, 2021. Retrieved November 22, 2018. 4012 W 120th St, Hawthorne CA 90250-3107 … Corner Lot: No … M B 9-160 ex of st Lots 304 Thru 307 … Doc # 0456481 … DTT Sale Price: $1,995,019
^James, Brian; Palmer, Christopher (October 17, 2018). Administrative Color Approval – The Brick Store(staff report) (Report). Hawthorne Planning Commission. Archived from the original on February 26, 2019. Retrieved November 10, 2018. Project Location: 12003 Prairie Avenue (APN # 4046-008-027) … Project Applicant: The Boring Company
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