Panama City seeks Boring Company tunnel under Panama Canal

Panama City's mayor, Mayer Mizrachi, is vying for a free tunnel beneath the Panama Canal offered by Elon Musk's Boring Company. The city is one of 16 finalists in the company's Tunnel Vision challenge and the only entry from outside the United States; the prize is a tunnel up to a mile that can serve freight, pedestrians, water, utilities or the Loop.

Mizrachi's proposal calls for a 0.6-mile pedestrian tunnel with parks and interpretive displays so residents and visitors can more directly experience the canal's history and biodiversity. The idea is pitched as a public space that integrates families and tourists; the contest winner will be announced on March 23.

The canal has also become a geopolitical flashpoint, after President Donald Trump threatened to take control over fees and influence, and Panama withdrew from China’s Belt and Road initiative in February 2025.

Panama, Panama City

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