Governor Bill Lee announced approval for The Boring Company's Music City Loop project, an underground tunnel connecting downtown Nashville to the international airport. The privately funded initiative, using Tesla vehicles, aims to reduce commute times to about eight minutes. Construction is set to begin immediately following the permit from the Tennessee Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration.
On February 25, 2026, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee reported that the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration have approved a lease and enhanced grading permit for The Boring Company's Music City Loop project. This underground tunnel system will link downtown Nashville, including lower Broadway and the Convention Center, to Nashville International Airport (BNA) and extend to West End, using tunnels beneath state-owned roadways.
The project is fully privately funded by Elon Musk's The Boring Company, with no cost to taxpayers. Steve Davis, president of The Boring Company, stated that the initiative has reached its 'shovel-ready point' after collaboration with federal, state, and local agencies. Construction will start immediately, with the first segment expected to open by the end of 2026.
The system promises to transport passengers in approximately eight minutes from downtown to BNA, removing thousands of vehicles daily from roadways to ease congestion and enable thousands of people per hour to travel with predictable times. Future expansions could include additional communities and over 40 stations.
Regarding vehicle use, a WSMV report indicated the tunnels will be available exclusively for Tesla taxis. However, Elon Musk posted on X that 'Any fully autonomous electric cars can use the tunnels,' highlighting a point of clarification on access.
Governor Lee commented, 'Tennessee continues to lead the nation in finding innovative solutions to accommodate growth, and in partnership with The Boring Company, we are exploring possibilities we couldn’t achieve on our own.' U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy added, 'The Music City Loop shows what’s possible when we leverage private-sector innovation and American ingenuity to solve transportation challenges,' congratulating the involved parties on advancing the project to reduce congestion and improve travel efficiency.
Davis emphasized, 'Music City Loop will be a safe, fast, and fun public transportation system, and we are excited to build it in Nashville.'