Bridge- Parallel Thimble Shoal Tunnel Project

For more contest information, visit www.cbbt.com/TBMNamingContest/

For more project information, visit www.cbbt.com/parallelthimbleshoaltunnel/

Tunnel Boring Machine

To Cape Charles, VA PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel is a 17.6 mile bridge and tunnel complex that spans the lower Chesapeake Bay and connects ’s Eastern Shore with the mainland in Virginia #2 Island Proposed Beach. The Parallel Thimble Shoal Tunnel project will involve the construction of a two-lane bored tunnel from the CBBT’s southernmost island (#1 Island) under Thimble Shoal Channel to #2 Island. This will be the FIRST bored roadway tunnel in the region as well as the Commonwealth. Not only did this bored tunnel solution offer a less expensive Parallel Existing Thimble Thimble Shoal Shoal Tunnel price tag, but it will have less environmental impact than the traditional immersed tube and will have less impact on the ship traffic that sails Thimble Shoal Channel. Tunnel When complete, this tunnel, which runs parallel to the existing tunnel, will carry southbound traffic headed towards Virginia’s mainland.

CONTRACTOR: Chesapeake Tunnel Joint Venture COST: $755,987,318

Hydraulic Rams What is a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM)? Rotating Arm

A TBM is a machine used to excavate . This machine operates #1 Island like a giant drill, but one that builds as it drills. Here’s how it works:

The large rotating cutter head scrapes away soil under the bay bottom. The soil is removed from the machine via a large conveyor system and hauled away. Large precast tunnel segments, each approximately 6 1/2 feet wide by 12 1/2 feet long and weighing To Virginia 10 tons, are then trucked into the machine. A rotating arm picks up Beach, VA the segment and places it in a tunnel ring. Ten segments complete each tunnel ring. There will be approximately 9,000 total segments to complete this one-mile tunnel. Hydraulic rams push against the newly-placed concrete segments to drive the machine forward. Hydraulic Rams HEIGHT: 42 feet in diameter Rotating Cutter Head Conveyor System or the equivalent of a four-story Precast Tunnel Segments building WEIGHT: 2780 TONS or 5,560,000 pounds CREW SIZE: 20-25 people around the clock. There As much as the Statue of Liberty...times 12! LENGTH: 308 Feet or approximately the will be two 10-hour shifts with one 4-hour break for length of 8 school buses parked end to end maintenance. ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL:

The crew will not be able to come and go from the The TBM is anticipated to arrive in the US in late machine during their shift. 2018. It will take some time for the equipment to SPEED: Slow! The machine will advance TBM MANUFACTURER: There will be a “container” within the TBM that will be assembled on site at which time a “lowering approximately 50 feet each day. It is anticipated Herrenkneckt of include a chemical bathroom and a break room with ceremony” will be held on #1 Island. The TBM is that it will take the TBM approximately one year to tables and chairs and heat and air conditioning. anticipated to start “tunneling” in early 2019. make its way under Thimble Shoal Channel.