Hawthorne test tunnel

Boring test tunnel
Interactive map of Boring test tunnel
Overview
Other names
  • The R&D Tunnel
  • Hawthorne test tunnel
LocationHawthorne, California, U.S.
Coordinates
RouteWest 120th Street
StartSpaceX Parking Lot
No. of stations3
Operation
Work begunDecember 17, 2016
OpensDecember 18, 2018 (2018-12-18)
OperatorThe Boring Company
CharacterLimited access
Technical
Length1.14 mi; 6,000 ft
(1.83 km)
No. of lanes1
Operating speed127 mph (205 km/h)
Width12.5 feet (3.8 m)

The Boring test tunnel, or Hawthorne test tunnel, is a 1.14 miles (1.83 km) tunnel in Hawthorne, California, for testing hyperloop and "loop-based transportation". Boring of the tunnel started in 2016 and completed in December 2018. The single-bore tunnel was constructed during using a 14-foot (4.2 m) diameter tunnel boring machine, giving a finished 12-foot (3.8 m) internal diameter. The roadway has an asphalt surface, with autonomous vehicle operation of the Tesla Model 3 at speeds of 90 mph (140 km/h) and up to 116 mph (187 km/h) under human control. The Boring Company subsequently built the Las Vegas Convention Center Loop tunnel network.