Las Vegas Loop Launch

Following the launch, coinciding with the World of Concrete exhibition on June 8, 2021, up to three passengers can ride in Tesla sedans to the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) at no cost. Online registration is required due to COVID-19 restrictions, and there won’t be any on-site registration available.

Despite skepticism surrounding the practicality of this underground loop, Stephen D. Hill, the president and CEO of Las Vegas’ primary tourism agency, downplayed this groundbreaking endeavor by The Boring Company. He stated, “It’s innovative, but the technology associated with it is not, frankly, game-changing. It’s a tunnel, which we’ve been constructing for a long time, and it’s a roadway. Those things are not technically difficult.”

Musk’s Boring Company has drilled tunnels to establish this loop. He mentioned, “the journey from the Convention Center to the Strip means we won’t be caught in traffic jams anymore.” Plans are in the initial phases for extending the loop to include the Strip and the airport, potentially saving time for busy individuals. This also addresses critical sustainability concerns related to oil dependency.

Sustainability of Bored Tunnels

Musk’s innovative tunnels and loops tackle the pressing question of how urban residents will navigate their cities amid dwindling fuel supplies. These groundbreaking tunnels—yes, they are truly revolutionary—suggest that the impending oil crisis doesn’t have to be a catastrophic issue for society.

The Boring Company is taking proactive steps to confront a significant challenge anticipated by 2030. Paul Erlich stated, "The world will run out of oil in 2030, and other fossil fuels in 2050," in his book Beyond the Limit (2002).

While some argue that it’s not merely about the depletion of resources, the escalating costs of easily accessible oil could pose serious problems. For instance, the Permian Basin, as of January 2020, was still producing around 4 million gallons of oil daily for both domestic and international markets.

Hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, has emerged as a cost-effective method for extracting oil from deep within the earth. It employs a mixture of high-pressure water, sand, and chemicals to fracture rocks, allowing for oil collection. As extraction processes become more complex, oil prices are expected to soar.

The Rainbow Road Experience

After reading about Elon Musk’s Las Vegas tunnel being likened to a Tesla amusement park ride by LiveMint and witnessing the stunning colored light displays in the loop, it’s easy to see why staff refer to it as Rainbow Road. Currently, human drivers operate the vehicles, but plans are in place for automated vehicles in the future. Presently, drivers must pass a rigorous driving test that includes various emergency scenarios, such as tunnel collapses, gunfire, and bomb threats.

After watching the following video, it becomes clear that the vision for transportation and its potential impact on the planet is monumental. This glimpse into such an extraordinary engineering accomplishment warrants celebration.

Envisioning a Future Beyond Fracking

As we witness the decline of the fracking industry, the expansion of tunnels beneath urban centers globally will pave the way for sustainable job creation for decades to come, alongside energy-efficient transport systems utilizing these vibrant “rainbow roads” for an extended period.

Thank you for reading.

© 2021 Karen Madej. All rights reserved.

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