HRBT EXPANSION Magazine
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HRBT EXPANSION Spring 2020 HRBT EXPANSION Magazine IN THIS ISSUE Project Project Tunnel Boring Community Overview Timeline Approach Outreach 5 6 12 14 ABOUT THE PROJECT TEAM HRBT Message from Jim Utterback EXPANSION As the largest project in VDOT history, the HRBT Expansion Secretary of Transportation Project Financing TABLE OF Project is the long-awaited improvement to a major CONTENTS chokepoint in Hampton Roads. We’ve assembled a world- Shannon Valentine Project Team ........................... 3 class team of experts in bridge and tunnel construction. Project Overview ................ 4-5 We are currently working in the design phase with construction anticipated in Summer 2020. In the meantime, Project Timeline ..................6-7 VDOT Executive Committee the team is working on utility relocations and other Commonwealth History Of The Tunnels ......8-9 preparation activities to support construction. While much Stephen Brich: Commissioner Transportation Board Staff Spotlight ..................... 10 of the work (tunnel) will be happening underwater, there is Robert Cary: Deputy Commissioner still a lot of marine works and interstate widening as part Barton Thrasher: Chief Engineer Economic Impact .................. 11 of the project. By 2021, construction will be well underway, Boring Tunnels ..................12-13 so please drive safely and be mindful of crews working HRBT Project Management $3.8 Billion Project is Community Outreach ......14-15 along the interstate. We are committed to delivering 100% Funded James Utterback: Project Director the HRBT Expansion Project on-time and on-budget. The HRBT Expansion Project is funded 100% Peter Reilly: Deputy Project Director through public funds. As the largest design- James S. Utterback “ We are committed build project in Virginia history, 95% of the project is being funded with regional money HRBT Expansion Project Director to delivering the through the Hampton Roads Transportation HRBT Expansion Project Development and Delivery Fund, which is managed by the Hampton Roads Transportation Accountability Commission Project on-time (HRTAC). The remainder of the project is funded and on-budget.” through state and federal dollars. HRTAC Executive Director Kevin Page calls the HRBT Expansion Project, “a major milestone for the ABOUT THE PROJECT DIRECTOR region, which is solving our transportation problems together and moving projects forward PROJECTPROJECT PARTNERS PARTNERS through sensible planning and prioritization.” James S. Utterback was named Project Director for the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (HRBT) Expansion Assembling A TeamHRCP brings high-profile project Project in January 2018. Previously, Utterback served of Bridge-Tunnel Expertsexperience, technical expertise and as District Administrator of the Virginia Department essential resources to deliver this of Transportation’s (VDOT) Hampton Roads District complex project. The team includes an for five years. During that time, he led the assembly of local, regional, national development and delivery of one of VDOT’s and international construction and Jose Ignacio Martin Alos engineering firms with proven track largest district construction programs with HRCP, Project Executive a total contract value exceeding one records of delivering safe, high-quality, billion dollars. Utterback has been with and cost-effective projects of similar scope, cost and VDOT for over 20 years. In addition complexities to the HRBT Expansion. This world-class Assembling A Team team is committed to balancing construction efficiency to his state service, he served in of Bridge-Tunnel Experts: while maintaining traffic safety and mobility with minimal the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Air impact on nearby communities. Force Reserves for 26 years, retiring in 2010 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. SIGNING OF THE LARGEST DESIGN-BUILD PROJECT IN THE STATE. In April 2019, the Commonwealth of Virginia signed a comprehensive agreement with Hampton Roads Connector Partners JV, the design-build contractor for the project. 2 HRBT EXPANSION MAGAZINE | Spring 2020 www.hrbtexpansion.org 3 6 LANES Existing HAMPTON PROJECT OVERVIEW 64 A Closer Look At The HRBT Expansion Project Limits Connecting two of Coastal Virginia’s thriving port communities, the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel has long been one of the region’s most congested corridors. In order to reduce congestion, the Commonwealth Transportation Board approved the expansion of the HRBT in December 2016. 4 LANES Existing 6 LANES Proposed The Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel Expansion Project will span 10 miles of + Driveable Shoulder interstate from Hampton to Norfolk. With an expected completion date 664 of November 2025, the project will add a third lane and a driveable shoulder to I-64 from Settlers Landing Road in Hampton to 64 the I-564 Interchange in Norfolk. The addition of twin two- lane bored tunnels west of the existing tunnels will accommodate four lanes of traffic for a total of eight lanes of capacity across the water. Upon completion, 4 LANES Existing the new twin tunnels will carry all eastbound 8 LANES Proposed traffic and the existing east and westbound NEW TWIN TUNNELS tunnels will carry westbound traffic. 2 Lanes Each HRBT EXPANSION 664 PROJECT BENEFITS 64 Increase capacity Ease major congestion 4 LANES Existing 6 LANES Proposed Incr ease safety - + Driveable Shoulder enhance travel time reliability KEY PROJECT ELEMENTS Support emergency New Twin 2-lane bored tunnels evacuation readiness 28 bridges replaced or rebuilt 564 Bring in more than - $4.6 billion in 1 mile of Interstate widening in Hampton Project Limits investment Crane Island 4 miles of Interstate widening in Norfolk C reate 28,000 jobs over the life of 2 General Purpose664 Lanes (Free Lanes) plus a HOT the project Lane and a driveable shoulder in each direction NORFOLK 4 HRBT EXPANSION MAGAZINE | Spring 2020 www.hrbtexpansion.org 5 64 APRIL LNTP 2: Authorization for PROJECT TIMELINE Contract Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) HRBT Procurement EXPANSION Execution Construction Happening 4/3/19 Concurrently To Expedite Delivery LNTP 1: Design and Investigation The HRBT Expansion Project will be completed in November 2025. Due to Works for Environmental Permitting the ambitious scope of the project, you will see work simultaneously on the tunnel, bridges and interstate to minimize long-term disruption to the region. SUMMER PHOTO RIGHT: Project Director Jim Utterback takes Secretary of Transportation, Shannon Valentine, Anticipated on a tour of the South Island in March 2020 to view the early works on the HRBT Expansion Project. JPA Permit Issuance LNTP 3: Launching Pit Construction to Start SUMMER SEPTEMBER Substantial Contract - Completion Substantial PERMANENT WORKS: Over 55 Month Duration Completion Deadline 9/1/25 LAND WORKS 1-64 WIDENING Launch & Receiving Pit Ready for TBM NOVEMBER Contract - TBM Assembly & Mining Completion Deadline 11/1/25 Interior Works Tunnels FINAL 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 LNTP = Limited Notice to Proceed PROJECT COST TUNNEL CROSSING MARINE BRIDGES TUNNEL CONSTRUCTION The diameter of $ each new tunnel 3.8 will be approximately Billion The new twin tunnels will be approximately 46 feet, Project is 100% It is 9,000 feet creating the second Funded by Public Funds. 50 feet deeper across Hampton Roads Waterway. largest tunnel opening (See details on page 2). than the current Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnels. Equal to 25 football fields in length. for a Tunnel Boring Machine in North America. 6 HRBT EXPANSION MAGAZINE | Spring 2020 www.hrbtexpansion.org 7 HISTORY HRBT EXPANSION Bridging Distance To Connect A Region Prior to the construction of the was the world’s longest immersed- a second tunnel was opened to carry 1 original Hampton Roads Bridge- tube tunnel at 7,479 feet. It was eastbound traffic, and the original The Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel provided a direct connection between the Southside and Tunnel, the only way to cross the also the first to be constructed tunnel became the westbound tunnel. Peninsula, eliminating a ferry trip and cutting channel from Hampton to Norfolk from two artificial islands. At a Over the years, Hampton Roads has travel time from 30 minutes to just seven minutes. was by way of ferry which took cost of $44 million and construction grown to a population exceeding 1.7 roughly 30 minutes each way. timeline of three years, the HRBT million. With that immense population 2 consisted of 23 double-shell steel growth, congestion has increased at A segment of the immersed tube is being In 1957, the original Hampton floated to its final destination at the HRBT. tube sections. The 23 separate tubes the HRBT. Roads Bridge-Tunnel opened with The tunnel was comprised of 23 segments and were welded together and laid into two-lanes of bi-directional traffic. More than 100,000 vehicles use the welded together to form more than a mile of a trench in the Hampton Roads The HRBT connected the Southside HRBT crossing each day during peak continuous steel tube. harbor to form more than a mile and Peninsula, bringing the Hampton summer months, often resulting in of continuous steel tube. Roads area together as one cohesive regular travel back-ups of 6.3 miles. 3 The trestle, or bridge, section of the HRBT region. Travel time to cross the harbor With unprecedented population The long-awaited HRBT Expansion 1 comprises the longest portion of the span. was reduced to just seven minutes. growth, traffic surpassed initial will improve congestion and predictions and prompted the connectivity across the region. An engineering marvel at the time it need for a second tunnel. In 1976, 4 Crews excavate and build up walls to form was constructed, the original HRBT the tunnel entrance. 5 A view of the nearly completed North “ With this bridge tunnel, Island. VDOT constructed this man-made island with approximately 130,000 tons of heavy stone we have destroyed distance to build the island’s seawalls. and conquered time. 6 Concrete segments were used to reinforce ” the walls of the tunnel entrance. — General James Anderson, State Highway Commissioner, Circa 1957 7 The interior of the steel tube shows forms used for placement of the two-lane roadway 2 slab atop supporting haunches.