One Dark Tunnel

“Beware the Jabberwock, my son…” *

And already the sparkle is gone.

The glow has quickly worn off from that grand, sunny announcement of two weeks ago - when a beaming Gov. Bill Lee told the assembled drum-beaters how Elon Musk’s company will soon be drilling a 10-mile tunnel underneath Nashville (at no cost to us!)

All the usual boosters had turned out for Lee’s event that day - the reliable cheerleaders of the local tourist bureau, the chamber of commerce, all dutifully adding their dependable applause and back-slapping harrumphs on-cue.

O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!" *

But by this weekend not so much. The shine has dulled, the thrill is gone. Only the awkward sound of official silence.

It’s been a stark change, and here’s why: To all the sensible curious follow-up questions, the common-sense curiosity about about how this Deal will work, virtually no answers or explanations have been forthcoming. In this darkness of secrecy, after so much loud cheerleading for this shadowy project, there has been nagging silence underneath and a dearth of factual answers.

This proposed ten-mile tunnel notion from downtown to the airport remains a dark idea. Many questions, no answers.

No detailed maps of the particular route, no post-construction business plan. No breakdowns of costs and contingencies - like those geological certainties of Nashville’s subterranean stone, like fire-safety plans for folks inside the finished tunnel, let alone whether Nashvillians might like to have some small official say.

Mayor O’Connell’s office has been dutifully collecting such questions, in hopes that competent answers might soon be coming back down the street from Capitol Hill. By this weekend, there are nearly 80 on this list of questions.

I have now read them all. And will tell you that not one of them is frivolous or non-serious - all are in keeping with the responsibilities we’d expect of any municipal government. For instance, what about stormwater drainage, who will move local utilities as needed, and which agency state or local must review construction plans?

And also these…

• Where will emergency access points be established?

• If a vehicle battery ignited while in the tunnel, where does the smoke and hazardous gas vent from the tunnel?

• If someone is hurt, who is liable?

• Who will operate the tunnel?

Did no one at the state Capitol think to ask such questions before blessing this shadowy tunnel deal?

All the questions on Metro’s list fit with the kind of processing that any of us would expect our City Hall to raise. Failure to get such answers by now would normally be deemed irresponsible on the part any state or local government.

With such a large-scale excavation project, I have also wondered what will happen to all that limestone that’s to be dug out of the earth below the city. Will it be crushed for construction gravel? Who will be the owner of that material? The Boring Company? TDOT? NDOT? Nobody?

I am told two standing committees of Metro Council are organizing a public-information session for this coming week - hoping to spread some sunshine on this tunnel project. They’ve invited officials of Musk’s Boring Company to attend and answer questions. But I’m also told that by the weekend nobody with the company has agreed to come.

Silence and secrecy always lead to public skepticism and public distrust.

Somebody should explain to Governor Lee that this kind of arrogant, needless secrecy is precisely the self-made trap that dumb governments always fall into.

The Governor should not tolerate it one day longer.

© 2025 Keel Hunt

*Lewis Carroll, Jabberwocky, 1871