Parallel Thimble Shoal Tunnel

Close

The Parallel Thimble Shoal Tunnel project entails the construction of a 5,700-foot bored tunnel connecting two southbound trestles of the existing Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel, a 17.6 mile structure connecting the Norfolk/Virginia Beach areas to Virginia's eastern shore. The CBBT first opened to traffic on April 15, 1964, providing one lane of travel in each direction across a series of bridges and trestles and through two tunnels. In 1990, the Commonwealth of Virginia agreed to construct an additional crossing parallel to the existing structure, doubling its capacity. The second crossing would improve safety and provide an alternate route in the event of a traffic incident. The second set of parallel bridges and trestles opened in 1999, however, the facility's two tunnels were not expanded. Each still accommodated one lane of traffic in each direction. When complete, the new tunnel will carry two lanes of traffic southbound and the existing tunnel will carry two lanes of traffic northbound. (The CBBT's other tunnel will not be expanded as a part of this project.) The additional capacity will alleviate disruption from disabled vehicles or accidents (averaging 25 per year), lane closures from oversized escorts (338 per year) and routine maintenance (1,400 hours per year), and eliminate the inherent hazard of a contraflow tunnel.

High