A Message From the Project Director |
A major milestone for the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel Expansion Project was achieved on August 10 when the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) issued a critical permit needed for construction. USACE issued the permit to Hampton Roads Connector Partners (HRCP) for the widening of Interstate 64 between Hampton and Norfolk (9.9 miles) and the construction of twin two-lane bored tunnels next to the existing HRBT. The Corps also completed the Section 408 Determination process, identifying no impacts to Federal navigation projects operated and maintained by the USACE. This approval documents that the needs of maritime stakeholders have been addressed and includes conditions for enhancing maritime safety in federally managed navigation areas during HRCP’s marine construction work.
I am extremely pleased with the pace of permitting approval for this project since HRCP filed its Joint Permit Application with federal and state agencies last August, with final updates to the agencies as late as December 2019. VDOT is poised to issue Notice to Proceed with construction to HRCP after the joint venture obtains all required bonding and insurances. That is expected to be completed in the next few weeks. More information about the permitting process follows in the newsletter.
We look forward to sharing continuous construction news with you on a monthly basis starting in September.
Sincerely,
Jim Utterback, Project Director
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It’s official … Hampton Roads Connector Partners received word on August 10, 2020 that the third of three components of the project Permit has been received! The receipt of the final U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit marks the successful completion of the environmental approval and permitting phase of the HRBT Expansion Project and prepares VDOT and HRCP to transition to the construction phase.
Here in Virginia, a Joint Permit Application (JPA) is used to apply for permits from the Norfolk District of the US Army Corps of Engineers for work in the waters (including wetlands) within Virginia. The JPA is also used to apply simultaneously for corresponding permits from the Virginia Marine Resources Commission and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality for permitting purposes involving tidal and non-tidal waters and wetlands, as well as dune/beach resources, for activities including construction, dredging, filling, or excavation.
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The first component of the Permit received by HRCP is the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) permit. The VMRC permit, issued in May 2020, authorizes HRCP to widen I-64 nearly 10 miles from Settlers Landing Road in Hampton to the I-64/I-564 interchange in Norfolk – to include the expansion of existing roadways, construction of new bridge trestles, boring of two new two-lane tunnels, and expansion of existing portal islands and development of a construction staging area on Willoughby Spit. |
The second component is the Virginia
Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) permit. The DEQ NPDES permit, issued in July 2020, authorizes HRCP JV to construct and maintain two outfalls which will discharge treated construction water from tunnel-boring operations and jet-grout and slurry-wall construction activities.
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The third and final component of the Permit is the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) permit. The USACE permit, issued August 2020, authorizes HRCP to construct temporary, pile-supported trestles to support construction equipment and carry vehicular traffic during construction, and to construct the following permanent project elements: replacement of North and South trestle bridges, two new parallel tunnels using a Tunnel Boring Machine, expansion of the existing portal islands, widening of the Willoughby Bay trestle bridge, widening of the bridges over Oastes and Mason Creeks, replacement of the Mallory Street Bridge, widening of the land-based portions of I-64, and repairs to the existing bulkhead at the Willoughby Spit construction laydown area.
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Extensive collaboration among project partners, external stakeholders, and various federal and state regulatory agencies has allowed us to receive the Permits ahead of the original schedule. A special thanks to all the professionals involved in the environmental permitting phase of our project, and thank you to all of the local stakeholders who supported the project’s environmental permitting process.
Next project milestone: Receipt of the “Notice to Proceed” from VDOT and the official commencement of construction activity.
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Hydromills Mobilized to the HRBT South Island |
If you have traveled through the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (HRBT) lately, you probably could not help but notice large cranes and booms jetting skyward from the South Island. The large equipment is part of the HRBT Expansion project.
In the months ahead, as we detail specifics of the interstate widening and tunneling project here, we will feature different aspects of the expansion work, personnel who enable these impressive projects and specialized equipment needed to get the job done.
We begin with the two Hydromills, which are specialty excavating equipment for digging a line of deep, side-by-side rectangular holes that will be filled with concrete to form underground walls. These walls form the outline of a triple-cell cofferdam (“tri-cell,” as we call it) that is as big as a football field, and the space inside will later be excavated to hold the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) upon its arrival next year. The TBM will be assembled and launched from the tri-cell.
Some of these walls will be up to 190 feet deep! In order to keep such a deep hole open until the concrete is placed, the hydromills fill each narrow excavation with a thick slurry fluid as they dig. This slurry is pumped out when the concrete arrives and is then filtered and recycled for use in the next hole.
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PICTURED ABOVE & BELOW: The Hydromills being erected. Two large reels above the cab hold the hydraulic lines which operate the cutters, and the other reel holds the mud line which transports slurry to and from the slurry plant on site. |
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PICTURED BELOW: This is a Clamshell digger. The bucket, known as a “Grab,” is held by a crawler crane to start the excavation for the slurry wall panels and to “grab” large boulders and debris and to prevent them from getting into upper fill layers of the Hydromills. |
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PICTURED BELOW: The cutterhead of a Hydromill.
The slurry wall panels are up to 190 feet deep to help provide isolation from groundwater and reduce water seepage into the tri-cell excavation.
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Coordinated Communication |
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PICTURED ABOVE: Jim Stanek (VDOT) and Jeff Singleton (HRCP) presenting at the First Responders Workshop |
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Safety First is the guiding principle of the HRBT Tunnel Expansion, and first responders from Norfolk and Hampton are actively engaged in organized tours of the project worksite, monthly meetings and comprehensive workshops to ensure coordinated communications and incident readiness.
Hampton Roads Connector Partners (HRCP) hosted a First Responders workshop in August. Facilitated by Jim Stanek, VDOT's Incident Management Coordinator, and Jeff Singleton, HRCP's Incident Management Coordinator, the workshop focused on the project's footprint in Hampton and Norfolk, with emphasis placed on access capabilities when responding to incidents at the work site, management of traffic and handling disabled/damaged vehicles in constricted project locations.
Safety coordination efforts will continue throughout the life of the project with tabletop exercises, quarterly updates, and coordinated communication. Norfolk Fire and Rescue and the City of Hampton first responders assure the Expansion Team that they are equipped to handle any incident that may occur.
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On August 27, Project Director Jim Utterback led the third quarterly HRBT Expansion Project Stakeholders Committee (Virtual) Meeting. At this briefing, HRCP Project Executive José Martin Alos provided an update on current construction operations as well as projections for upcoming work this fall. Committee members also received updates on recent state and federal permits issued for the project; the success of the DBE/SWaM outreach and engagement activities with a goal of more than $300 million in awards throughout the project; and highlights on the upcoming TBM naming contest for middle school students in Hampton Roads.
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Pictured Above: Virtual presentation to the FBI Citizens Alumni Academy
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The HRBT Expansion Project team has adapted well to the “new normal” of virtual meetings! Our community outreach has not missed a beat in providing updates on project scope, progress and impact.
This month, the team connected with more than 100 citizens through meetings with the Ward’s Corner Taskforce, FBI Citizens Alumni Academy, Newport News Rotary Club and Rose and Womble’s Lynnhaven office. Participants asked questions from their area of expertise, but they were most curious about the details of the Tunnel Boring Machine, traffic impacts, HOT lane usage and preservation of wildlife.
We welcome the opportunity to speak to your group! To request a speaker for your next meeting, email HRBTinfo@VDOT.Virginia.gov or call 858.6776.
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PICTURED ABOVE: Virtual Presentation to the Wards Corner Taskforce |
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PICTURED ABOVE: Virtual Presentation to Rose and Womble - Lynnhaven Office. |
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A recent double rainbow appears to arc from the HRBT South Island, over barges that are nesting grounds for migratory seabirds, and bend to Ft. Wool where most of the seabirds are nesting now that they are no longer on the South Island. A double rainbow is thought to be a symbol of transformation and good fortune. Our expansion work at the South Island is certainly considered transformative and we definitely favor good fortune for the birds, delivery of the project and congestion relief for motorists! |
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Photo above courtesy of Anna Weaver of VHB-VDOT's bird monitoring lead on the expansion project. |
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