28-01-2025
Tunnel boring machine makes breakthrough at CBBT
CAPE CHARLES, Va. (WAVY) — The tunnel boring machine known as Chessie broke through the receiving pit on Two Island at the Thimble Shoal Channel at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel Monday, the CBBT said.
It's a big milestone for the tunnel boring machine to reach its end destination, and the CBBT said that once the temporary bracing struts and steel beam are taken out of the receiving wall, Chessie will finish its final hours of mining.
'Today marks a proud moment for the entire team involved in this project,' said CBBT commission chairman Fred Stant in a statement. 'The parallel tunnel is a key component of enhancing the safety and efficiency of this vital transportation link and demonstrates the CBBT Commission's commitment to advancing infrastructure and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.'
The next step is for the road to be built inside the tunnel and put into place the electrical and mechanical systems and build the support buildings, the CBBT said, and when those things are finished, the new tunnel will carry two lanes of southbound CBBT traffic, and the existing tunnel will carry two northbound lanes of traffic.
Current projections have the project being finished in early 2028.
The mining for the two-lane, approximately one-mile long tunnel started in February 2023. Three months later, the tunnel boring machine struck an obstruction that was later determined to be a large ship's anchor that was made in England at the turn of the 20th century.
'This breakthrough represents the culmination of extensive planning, engineering precision and complex construction work during the planned and unplanned phases of the tunnel mining,' said Jeff Holland, CBBT executive director, in a statement. 'We especially commend the work crews who operated in a high-risk environment to remove the anchor obstruction without injury or loss of life. This engineering achievement marks a major step forward in enhancing the safety, connectivity and infrastructure for the many travelers who rely on the CBBT.'
The tunnel boring machine used for the CBBT project was designed and built by Herrenknecht of Germany and has a cutterhead that measures 43 feet in diameter and an overall length of 308 feet. The name of the tunnel boring machine, Chessie, came from then-sixth grader Grace Bentley of Nandua Middle School.
Chessie removed about 500,000 cubic yards of soil and installed about 10,000, 10-ton concrete segments.
Chesapeake Tunnel Joint Venture, made up of Dragados USA and Schiavone Construction Company LLC, is the design-build contractor for the project, with the two sister-firms part of ACS Dragados of Spain.
'Today was a monumental day for the Chesapeake Tunnel JV team, a Dragados and Schiavone joint venture,' said John Hellman, a project executive for Dragados USA, in a statement. 'Our TBM 'Chessie,' a 43.5-foot diameter Herrenknecht TBM, broke through the headwall to complete the mile-long tunnel drive for the Parallel Thimble Shoal Tunnel for the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. This new tunnel will help provide a less-congested and safer driving experience for commuters headed between Virginia Beach and Virginia's Eastern Shore. Thank you and congratulations to everyone involved in this incredible project.'
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