Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel

An evolving engineering marvel

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CorporateProfile www.execdigital.com Supply Chain | 3 Bridge-Tunnel Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel: An evolving engineering marvel Executive Director Jeff Holland explains how the 17.6-mile Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel toll road over and under open water stands the test of time and withstands the elements Written by Kellie K. Speed Produced by Michael Magno

he engineering masterpiece known as the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel has certainly rendered both architects and Tengineers speechless through the years. Crossing over and under open waters where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, the Bridge-Tunnel offers a direct link between southeastern Virginia and the ( plus the Eastern Shore counties in and Virginia), and provides a scenic shortcut between Virginia Beach and Wilmington, Delaware. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel is the largest bridge and tunnel complex in the world. Recognized as one of the engineering wonders of the world, this facility stretches 17.6 miles from shore to shore and opened to traffic in April of 1964 after 3½ years of construction. “The District used to be operated as a ferry service and, including wait times, the total crossing could take up to two hours,” says Jeff The Chesapeak Holland, Executive Director of the Chesapeake Bay Bride Tunnel Bay Bridge-Tunnel. “Today, with a four-lane facil- ity, a crossing takes just 25 minutes.”

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The Chesapeake Bay Jeff Holland Bridge-Tunnel is 17.6 Executive Director miles long

must be carefully inspected and main- concrete cylinder piles across the facility. “We Area to include the Southern Gateway Wel- “We are always evaluating tained both above and below the recently won an award from the International come Center, upgrades to the sewer lift station, surface of the water. Concrete Repair Institute for our substruc- and the installation of pumps and equipment avenues to become more ture repair project to strengthen the piles and within the portal islands and mid-channel pump Ongoing projects maximize longevity.” rooms of both Thimble Shoals Channel Tunnel green and save money” Work is currently under way on a “Because of the harsh marine environment, and Chesapeake Channel Tunnel. “We are - Jeff Holland, Executive Director tunnel retrofit project that consists we conduct hydrographic surveys to examine also evaluating the potential to construct avian- of the removal and replacement of and monitor the movement of the bay bottom. friendly wind turbines on the District premises,” The facility is comprised of a series of low- deteriorated areas of wall tile on the main tunnel If there are areas that fall below the minimum notes Holland. “Our main concern is that we level trestles, two one-mile-long tunnels, two walls of the interior tube. “We will take out areas threshold, we add stability to the bay bottom, do not cause any negative impacts to our sur- bridges, two miles of causeway, four man-made where steel is exposed to rust and remove the which offers a solid foundation over time.” To rounding environment.” islands and 5½ miles of approach roads. The corroded steel and replace concrete where that end, a tunnel scour remediation project for District, a political subdivision of the Common- needed,” Holland says. “That project should be the two tunnels as well as other areas along Economic impact wealth of Virginia, has the sole responsibility for complete in December of this year.” the facility is in progress and will continue for The District has endeavored to become lean in operating and maintaining the Chesapeake Bay Another capital project includes substruc- another two years. recent years. “We try to maximize our net rev- Bridge-Tunnel complex which, because of its ture repair, which involves both maintenance Other continuing capital projects include enues for infrastructure preservation. We want unique exposure to wind, waves and currents, and structural repairs to more than 600 the expansion of the existing North Plaza Rest to be sure we maintain the facility with a high

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Before the CBBT opened in 1964, crossing Chesapeake Bay meant a two-hour ferry ride. Maintenance of the bridge and tunnel system never stops.

degree of competency. That’s an important com- project with LED lighting for FACTS at a Glance ponent of what we are all about. Four years ago, “Our sole intent is to provide a our roadways and we have we had 170 full-time employees but we now have been testing them to see the Company Name: Chesapeake Bay 150 and we remain focused on improving our vital crossing. Our resources durability, reliability and cost Bridge and Tunnel District efficiency,” Holland says. savings. All navigational “Our sole intent is to provide a vital are the bridge infrastructure aids for boaters have already Executive Director: Jeffrey Holland crossing. Our resources are the bridge infra- been switched to LED.” structure and our travelers, so we want to and our travelers” Forty-five years later, the Operations: A 17.6-mile bridge and provide excellent customer service while at the - Jeff Holland, Executive Director Chesapeake Bay Bridge- tunnel toll system that connects Southeastern same time maximizing our net revenue while Tunnel continues to play an Virginia with the Delmarva Peninsula minimizing our payroll to preserve that infra- email, text, and an automated phone system,” important role as an integrated transportation structure. The current economic environment Holland explains. system that serves both a local and a national Established: 1964 has been a challenge but our business model population. To date, more than 100 million com- is solid,” he continues. An eye to the future mercial and passenger vehicles have crossed the Employees: 150 Minimizing traffic impact to its customers Being environmentally friendly is of utmost Bridge-Tunnel. is paramount to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge- concern to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. “We envision continuing to have increased Revenue: US $48 million Tunnel’s success. “We are tied into the state’s “We are always evaluating avenues to become traffic that produces adequate revenue for traffic advisory system so that travelers can more green and save money,” Holland says. improvement projects and that keeps tolls at www.cbbt.com become aware of hazardous road conditions by “We are in the process of working on a pilot reasonable rates.”

www.execdigital.com | March 2009 Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel 32386 Lankford Highway Insert Cape Charles, VA 23310 company logo T: 757.331.2960 | F: 757.331.4565 | www.cbbt.com

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