Work starting on second Chesapeake Tunnel project

Work is now starting on a major tunnel project in the US state of Virginia. Construction of a second tunnel connection for the Chesapeake Bay is expected to cost US$756million. The original Chesapeake Bay Tunnel and Bridge crossing opened to traffic in April 1964 and measures just over 37km long. Construction of a second parallel bridge was commenced in 1995 and opened to traffic in 1999. However the central tunnel link was not widened at that time and now carries more traffic than it was designed for, whil
September 20, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
Work is now starting on a major tunnel project in the US state of Virginia. Construction of a second tunnel connection for the Chesapeake Bay is expected to cost US$756million. The original Chesapeake Bay Tunnel and Bridge crossing opened to traffic in April 1964 and measures just over 37km long. Construction of a second parallel bridge was commenced in 1995 and opened to traffic in 1999. However the central tunnel link was not widened at that time and now carries more traffic than it was designed for, while also suffering some delays at peak periods. To increase capacity as well as to boost safety, a second bore is now being constructed and this will eliminate the need for two-way traffic as at present.


This new tunnel will be driven using a TBM with the work being carried out by the Chesapeake Tunnel Joint Venture, a partnership between the contractors 4761 Dragados and Schiavone Construction Company. This machine will use a 12.8m diameter cutter head drive a new bore under the Thimble Shoal Channel, removing some 392,000m3 of material. In all, 9,000 pre-cast segments will be used to support the new tunnel and it will have an internal diameter of 11.9m, while the project is expected to require a total of 32,900m3 of concrete. The tunnel will measure around 1.6km long and will reach a maximum depth of 41.5m, with the work due for completion in 2022.

Finance & Funding

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Redevelopments at southern Polish airports
    August 21, 2013
    Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport in the south-east of Poland is now benefiting from a new taxiway constructed over a 50-month period and costing some €22.5 million. The work was required as the airport needs to increase capacity to cope with growing passenger traffic. The main portion of the project was for the construction of a 3km long taxiway, which lies parallel to the airport’s main runway. This taxiway now allows aircraft to manoeuvre away from the single runway and free up capacity for take-offs and land
    Read More
  • Emovis continues with Mersey Gateway tolling
    March 18, 2022
    Emovis provides collection of tolls and charges for both Mersey Gateway Crossing and the older 87m-long Silver Jubilee Bridge through its merseyflow brand name.
    Read More
  • Southern Ohio Veterans Memorial Highway ready for construction
    April 13, 2015
    Construction is about to start on the first public-private partnership highway project in the US state of Ohio. The Southern Ohio Veterans Memorial Highway, near the city of Portsmouth, will cost nearly US$228 million and is scheduled for completion in 2019, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT). The Portsmouth Gateway Group will build the 25.8km, four-lane limited access highway from U.S. Route 23 north of Lucasville to U.S. Route 52 near Sciotoville. An ODOT statement said tha
    Read More
  • Tunnel essential to reduce congestion
    February 21, 2012
    Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City's dense population, which was estimated to be 10,680 persons/km2 in 2005, is, over the next ten years, set to benefit from the completion of the Thu Thiem Urban Area project, which will provide homes for up to 200,000 people.
    Read More

Highlighted Content