November 26, 2025
Tunnel dreams, OSHA screams
Crews Claim Boring Company Failed to Pay Workers and Snubbed OSHA Concerns
Workers walk off, commenters cry 'OSHA circus' and roast Musk's reputation
TLDR: Local crews say they quit Elon Musk’s Nashville tunnel over unpaid bills and safety hazards, while The Boring Company’s VP promised to clear invoices and audit the mess. Comments roasted Musk, dubbed it an “OSHA circus,” and debated whether “missed payments” are normal business or classic corporate spin.
Nashville’s tunnel drama just went full soap opera. Willie Shane says his crew dug for months on Elon Musk’s Music City Loop, only to be paid a tiny slice of what they’re owed and to watch safety rules get treated like optional. He claims pay got pushed from 15 to 60 days, then barely trickled in, and that workers were solicited by a Boring Company rep via text. After press inquiries, a company VP promised to fix invoices and “audit” the mistake — and the internet rolled its eyes.
The comments are savage. Cheyana bluntly says the contractor should’ve factored in the “liar at the top.” SilverElfin calls the corporate response “gaslighting,” highlighting the VP’s spin that missed payments happen in the “normal course of business.” Meanwhile, drbojingle drops a Wonka-parody: “A world of OSHA violations.” For context, OSHA is the workplace safety watchdog — and Shane alleges hard hats were ignored and deep digs were shored with wood planks instead of concrete. Yikes.
Then comes the bigger conspiracy take: hamdingers claims The Boring Company exists mainly to derail real transit, not build it. Others cheer workers for refusing to be poached and for staying loyal to the local crew. The vibe? Tunnel vision meets trust erosion, with memes, snark, and safety fears stealing the show.
Key Points
- •Shane Trucking and Excavating walked off The Boring Company’s Nashville tunnel site after months of payment and safety issues.
- •Payments allegedly shifted from a 15-day schedule to 60 days; after 123 days, the subcontractor reports only about 5% paid and six-figure backpay owed.
- •Multiple OSHA complaints were filed regarding PPE and shoring practices; Shane says no response was received.
- •A Boring Company representative allegedly attempted to recruit Shane’s welders directly at $45/hour, which Shane calls a breach of contract.
- •Boring Company VP David Buss said he would settle outstanding invoices by Wednesday and conduct a full audit on the error.