PROJECT CONNECT
Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel
Parallel Thimble Shoal Tunnel Project
March 2019
Mission: The Parallel Thimble Shoal Tunnel Project will construct a new two-lane tunnel under Thimble Shoal Channel.
When complete, the new tunnel will carry two lanes of traffic southbound and the existing tunnel will carry two lanes of traffic northbound.
Project Facts
Design-Build Contractor : Chesapeake Tunnel Joint Venture (CTJV), a joint venture comprised of Dragados USA and Schiavone Construction Company, LLC
Construction Cost: $755,987,318
Construction Method: Bored tunnel
Tunnel Length: approximately one mile
Tunnel Boring Machine: Chessie
Estimated Project Completion : 2023
What's New?
One Island
CTJV subcontractor, Pacchiosi, has mobilized on site. Pacchiosi will be performing the jet grouting, which makes improvements to the existing soils on the island to allow them to carry heavier loads. To date, they have performed test columns in order to refine the production jet grout mix designs.

The installation of steel pipe piles has begun on the west side of the island. A vertical drill, manufactured by Berminghammer, is a specialized piece of equipment being used by CTJV to drill and install casings through the rock. The 36" diameter steel pipe piles are then driven inside the casings. The steel piles will support the temporary dock on the west side of the island.
Shown above are some of the already-installed casings that will support the temporary dock on the west side of One Island.
Two Island
On Two Island, the guide wall work is now complete. These guide walls are used as guides by the deep foundation installers, not only as a guide but also to keep the soil at the top of the excavation from collapsing into the dig.

Bencor has begun installing slurry panels. These slurry panels are the deep foundation walls that will form Chessie's receiving pit and eventually the open approach once the project is complete. Bencor is using a hydromill machine to dig foundation panels that are as deep as 120-feet below the surface of the island.
Pictured above is a 120-foot long rebar cage that is being prepared for placement in the excavation prepared by the hydromill (shown above).
South Toll Plaza
Work is nearing completion on the electrical duct bank in the South Toll Plaza area. This duct bank will carry power to A Trestle and onward to One Island, providing power for Chessie, the tunnel boring machine (TBM). This will eventually become a redundant feed for the CBBT.
Little Creek Property
At the Little Creek property, stone deliveries for the engineered berms continue. These large boulders, weighing on average 30,000 pounds each, will be used when the islands are expanded to facilitate tunnel construction.
Precast Tunnel Liner Segments
At CSI, work is now complete on the structure that will cover the tunnel segments as they move through the production process.

Inside the structure, freshly cast tunnel segments will travel onto an electric-powered transfer cart that will carry the segment forms into the steam kiln.

CSI has been conducting testing and commissioning and full production is anticipated to begin in April.
Joint Permit Approval
The contractor received the final joint permit application approval in February 2019, to allow for all of the tunnel project's waterborne work.
Meet Lil' Chessie
A model of the tunnel boring machine is now on display in the foyer of the CBBT's Administration building. This 10 foot model of the tunnel boring machine provides viewers an excellent look at the detail of this mammoth piece of machinery. An informational brochure has been developed to highlight some of the interesting factoids about this tunnel boring machine as well as the parallel tunnel project. Chessie is anticipated to arrive in the US in late 2019.