The Boring Company recently offered a tantalizing glimpse of its latest innovation, the Prufrock 5 tunnel boring machine (TBM). This revelation came through a recent X post showcasing Prufrock 4’s lighting test at the Boring Factory.
While Prufrock 5 hasn’t yet seen action in the field, the images suggest it’s on the verge of initial testing. Meanwhile, its predecessor, Prufrock 4, is gearing up for its first mission. The Boring Company began testing Prufrock 4 at its Bastrop, Texas facility in August. This behemoth measures 308 feet in length, weighs 797,000 pounds, and can generate up to 4.7 million pounds of thrust.
Prufrock 3, the current workhorse of the fleet, recently achieved a milestone by completing its first tunnel in Las Vegas. This follows its successful excavation of the Cybertunnel at Giga Texas. Far from resting on its laurels, Prufrock 3 is slated for its next launch on October 30.
The rapid development of these machines is fueled by significant investment. In 2022, The Boring Company raised $675 million to accelerate boring machine production and expand its operations. At the time, the company stated:
“Prufrock is a next-generation Tunnel Boring Machine designed to construct mega-infrastructure projects in a matter of weeks instead of years, and at a fraction of the cost. The current iteration of Prufrock, called Prufrock-2, is designed to mine at up to 1 mile/week, meaning a tunnel the length of the Las Vegas strip (approximately 4 miles) can be completed in a month.”
With each iteration, The Boring Company aims to revolutionize underground construction, promising faster, more efficient tunneling solutions for urban infrastructure challenges.
