Musk’s boring idea to beat traffic

Speaking at a TED Talks conference on Friday, the innovative entrepreneur and futurist unveiled his new venture dubbed “The Boring Company” in an animated concept video. The video envisions an extensive underground network of tunnels and shaft elevators, which lower cars from street-level to the underground and locks them into electric trays. The cars are then transported to their destinations at up to 124 mph (199 km/h) in slot car race-style.

“We’re trying to dig a hole under LA, and this is to create the beginning of what will hopefully be a 3-D network of tunnels to alleviate congestion,” Musk said during the TED Talk.

Musk introduced his tunnel (or boring) vision in December 2016 via a tweet while stuck in one of LA’s traffic jams. He then revealed “I am actually going to do this” in a follow-up Tweet. And he is a man of his word.

But just how many underground levels will need to be built to accommodate all of the frustrated commuters? Musk has suggested that as many as 40 layers of underground streets will clear up any amount of congestion.

Although he apparently spends only two or three per cent of his time on the venture, Musk said production of the boring machines was well underway.

The idea sounds good in theory, but its feasibility remains to be seen.

If the venture is successful, should Australian cities consider going underground to beat traffic?

Take a look at Musk’s Boring vision: