Elon Musk-owned contractor The Boring Co. is facing mounting challenges in Nashville after a subcontractor walked out of the $240 million Music City Loop tunnel project over unpaid bills and safety concerns, just a day after CEO Steve Davis used a Nov. 24 live address to highlight worker safety innovations and reassure the community the project remains on schedule.
The Nashville banner reported that Shane Trucking and Excavating, a local subcontractor responsible for excavation and fabrication, abandoned the nine-mile tunnel project after more than four months on site. Company owner Willie Shane told him banner that his company had only received about 5% of the payments due, leaving him to pay payroll out of pocket. It also raised safety concerns, alleging that crews were instructed to shore up deep excavation slopes with wooden planks instead of concrete, prompting complaints from the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Shane added that the staff at The Boring Co. he also tried to hire his welders, in violation of the terms of the contract.
The contractor did not respond to requests for comment.
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The feud in Nashville comes as The Boring Co. faces scrutiny in other areas. Ars Technica reported in October that the company was cited for nearly 800 environmental violations in Las Vegas, ranging from improper waste handling to stormwater management failures.
In a Sept. 22 notice obtained by ProPublica, the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection said The Boring Co. had violated the provisions of its administrative consent order, and ordered the company “to cease and desist from non-compliant activities, and [demanding] payment of penalties associated with such violations.” One incident described “a direct discharge of water … from The Boring Co.’s construction site. at 4300 Paradise Road” that was photographed by the Las Vegas Valley Water District and prompted the order.
The agency also cited The Boring Co. for inspection failures, claiming its “inspection records reflect that site inspections were not conducted by an independent certified environmental manager,” as required by a 2022 settlement agreement.
Regulators noted that penalties could have exceeded $3 million if assessed daily under the terms of the settlement, but the total was reduced to $242,800, according to Ars Technica. The notice documented more violations, including unsecured materials, poor housekeeping and late or missing follow-up reports.
Despite the ongoing challenges, Davis continues to emphasize safety in promoting the Music City Loop, citing a federal Transportation Security Administration review conducted by the US Department of Homeland Security.
“We asked for a full analysis of our safety and security, and they provided it,” Davis said. “The result was the Gold Standard award, the highest rating possible, covering 17 categories of safety and emergency preparedness. We achieved the highest score ever recorded for a public transport system.”
Davis concluded detailed live address plans for at least 20 Nashville stations, including a proposed two-mile extension along Broadway and West End Avenue. Stops are planned at Music City Center and Gaylord Opryland, with a potential stop at the new Nissan Stadium. The company maintains its goal of opening in 2027.
