Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel Expansion
The I-64 Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel has long been the area most clogged up with traffic on the way to Sandbridge. The existing 3.5-mile bridge tunnel consists of two 2-lane immersed-tube tunnels on artificial islands. These tunnels opened in 1957 (current westbound lanes) and 1976 (eastbound lanes) and are approximately 7,500 feet long. Traffic on these four lanes exceeds 100,000 vehicles per day during peak summer traffic.
This massive transportation project, expected to be completed by November 2025, will widen the current four-lane segments of the 1-64 HRBT corridor in Norfolk and Hampton, and bore new twin tunnels. The expansion will increase capacity, ease major congestion, and enhance travel time reliability.
Crews and subcontractors continue to make progress on the HRBT South Island in preparation for the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), which will eventually launch from the site in early 2022 and begin boring twin tunnels parallel to the existing eastbound tunnel. Workers are moving utility lines, constructing temporary plants on site and preparing to build a large dock to receive the TBM.
A concept video is linked below which takes viewers on a visual tour of the widening project!
