Las Vegas Convention Center Completes Tunnel Excavation

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) has announced that construction is complete on the second of two vehicular tunnels that make up the new underground transportation system located beneath the campus of the Las Vegas Convention Center.  

The Boring Company’s boring machine broke through a concrete wall and a sign declaring “You can’t stop Vegas” near the 1.4 million sq. ft. West Hall convention center expansion, which is currently more than 80% complete, signaling the completion of excavation for the two one-way tunnels known as the Convention Center Loop.

The West Hall expansion and Convention Center Loop are scheduled to debut to the public in January 2021. 

“This milestone not only helps usher in the future of transportation in Las Vegas, but it signals the destination’s ability to push through during trying times and continue to meet the evolving needs of our visitors,” said Steve Hill, LVCVA CEO and president.  “Las Vegas continues to break through boundaries, and we look forward to offering this first-of-its-kind transportation solution to our convention attendees.”

The first commercial endeavor for Elon Musk’s company, the $52.5 million project is expected to allow convention attendees to be moved across the 200-acre campus in under two minutes, free of charge, in all-electric Tesla vehicles. Construction is already underway on all three passenger stations in the system. 

Construction on the project has moved swiftly, said LVCVA. It moved from board approval to completing the excavation of both tunnels (two 4500 ft. journeys) in less than one year, which the organization said proves that Las Vegas embraces new ideas and quickly executes them to meet the evolving needs of visitors. 

The underground transportation system’s three passenger stations will connect the existing 3.2 million square-foot convention center to the $980 million West Hall expansion.