Elon Musk’s Tunnel Is Coming to Nashville, But Local Officials Weren’t Even on the Guest List

Elon Musk’s Tunnel Is Coming to Nashville, But Local Officials Weren’t Even on the Guest List

In a move that perfectly encapsulates the new era of top-down politics, a massive infrastructure project is set to break ground in Nashville without a single word of consultation with the very elected officials who represent the people affected.

On Monday, Governor Bill Lee proudly announced plans to build a 100% privately funded tunnel from downtown Nashville to the airport with Elon Musk’s Boring Company. The event was a high-profile affair, complete with US Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy and a host of state lawmakers. But conspicuously absent was State Representative Justin Jones, whose district includes the airport. In fact, when he showed up to the event, he was told he wasn’t on the list and was turned away.

It turns out he wasn't alone.

State Senator Mark Pody, who also represents the area, told me he wasn't invited either. "Having something within my district, something like this, and I was not even aware," he said. And the Metro Council members who represent the area? They found out about it the same time as the rest of us—the public.

The only local official who was looped in was a conservative Metro Council member, Courtney Johnson, who had a meeting with the Boring Company the week before the announcement. Her district, it should be noted, is miles away from the proposed tunnel route.

The governor's justification for this secrecy is that the tunnel will run only under state roads, giving his office the authority to make deals with the Boring Company without needing local input. But the elected officials who represent the people who actually live there have a lot of questions—questions they haven't been able to ask.

"What is it gonna do to the integrity of our roads to be drilling underneath them? Will there be sinkholes?" Senator Pody asked. He added that he’s not trying to stop the project, just ensure that “all of Tennesseans are well represented, and we're getting a fair shake.”

But it seems a fair shake isn't on the table. The project is running full steam ahead, with construction set to begin within the next few weeks. The Boring Company has already set up shop in Nashville and even held a hiring event.

When a governor and a billionaire can bypass local democracy and leave elected officials in the dark on a major project in their own backyard, it’s a clear sign that accountability and community input are no longer part of the conversation.