First Phase of Music City Loop Revealed: New Plans Show Downtown Tunnel Route Toward Airport

Source: Preliminary Tunnel Alignment – Phase 1A

Detailed engineering plans recently released through a public records request have provided the clearest picture to date of the Music City Loop, an underground transportation system proposed by The Boring Company. The first phase, titled “Nashville International Airport Connector – Phase 1A,” outlines a twin-tunnel route beginning at the Tennessee State Capitol and continuing south through downtown Nashville. Although this opening segment does not extend all the way to Nashville International Airport (BNA), it is designed as the first step in an eventual downtown-to-airport connection, one of the project’s most discussed goals.

What the Documents Show

The records, obtained by State Affairs from the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), describe a dual-bore tunnel system with 13.5-foot diameter tunnels running beneath major downtown corridors. The alignment stretches from the Capitol area to Lafayette Street, just south of the tourist district. Lafayette connects to Murfreesboro Pike, the surface-road corridor that leads directly to the airport, signaling the project’s intended direction of future expansion.

The engineering sheets include plan-and-profile drawings, cross sections, parcel maps, and utility layouts over a 17-sheet set. Grades in the preliminary design reach up to 7%, which is within the range of other Loop systems, including the company’s Las Vegas project.

The drawings are marked “Preliminary – Not for Construction,” meaning they represent an early stage in the design and approval process.

Stations, Stops, and Future Phases

The plans show three station or portal locations in this initial segment: one near the State Capitol, one at the Convention Center, and one at the southern end of the route. However, the documents note that station permitting will require separate approval, and The Boring Company has indicated publicly that it hopes to build as many as 20 stations citywide as the Music City Loop expands.

The company has also contacted Metro officials about utility information near two locations close to BNA, suggesting that airport planning work is already underway.

Why It Matters for Nashville

If fully built, the Music City Loop would introduce a new transportation option linking major destinations with predictable travel times and no surface traffic delays. Nashville’s rapid population growth and increased visitor volume continue to place pressure on downtown streets and interstate corridors. An underground system could:

• Reduce traffic congestion on key routes

• Improve mobility between economic centers

• Increase convenience for residents, commuters, and visitors

• Support tourism and convention activity

• Modernize Nashville’s transportation network

By tunneling beneath public streets, the system could also limit surface disruption during construction — a contrast with traditional rail or roadway expansion projects.

Permitting and Approvals Still Required

Before construction can begin, The Boring Company must secure permission from TDOT to build beneath state rights-of-way, followed by federal approval. The company has noted that federal sign-off is required even after state authorization is granted. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has publicly stated support for speeding up reviews, calling the Loop approach “a great way to cut through the red tape.”

The company’s Las Vegas system has faced its own federal restrictions regarding airport access, a factor that may influence the Nashville timeline as well.

What Comes Next

No project timetable has been released, and the plans do not specify a construction schedule. However, recent geotechnical testing near Vanderbilt University and ongoing station inquiries suggest that planning and surveying activity is broadening beyond the first segment.

For now, the public has a first detailed look at what the future Music City Loop could become: an expanding, tunnel-based transportation spine running beneath Nashville and aimed toward the airport — one phase at a time.