Norfolk's HRBT expansion gears up for second tunnel excavation
(UI) — In Norfolk, Virginia, crews are preparing to launch the tunnel boring machine (TBM) known as Mary for the second phase of the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (HRBT) expansion, according to WAVY Morning News.
This nearly $4 billion project aims to widen Interstate 64 and alleviate traffic congestion between the Southside and the Peninsula.
Mary, which completed the first of two new tunnels in June, is set to begin work on the second tunnel this fall. Crews have been rotating her cutterhead and repositioning equipment to ensure she's ready for this next excavation.
The HRBT expansion, which will introduce Virginia’s first bored tunnels, is slightly behind schedule, with a projected completion by February 2027. However, there is optimism that the project may wrap up ahead of time, possibly by September 2026.
Key updates include the rotation of Mary’s 46-foot cutterhead, a complex maneuver, and continued efforts to keep the project moving toward an early finish.
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