VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Parallel Thimble Shoal Tunnel Project at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel achieved a significant milestone as “Chessie,” the tunnel boring machine, broke through the receiving pit on Two Island at Thimble Shoal Channel.
This breakthrough marks the near completion of Chessie’s mining operations, with only the removal of temporary bracing struts and a steel beam from the receiving wall remaining. he project involves constructing a 5,700-foot bored tunnel connecting two southbound trestles of the existing Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, a 17.6-mile structure that first opened to traffic on April 15, 1964.
Once complete, the new tunnel will carry two lanes of southbound traffic, while the existing tunnel will accommodate two lanes of northbound traffic. Construction of the new tunnel began in 2017, with the tunnel boring machine, affectionately named “Chessie,” commencing its journey in early 2023.
The project has faced challenges, including a delay in August 2022 when Chessie encountered an anchor, halting the tunneling process. Despite these setbacks, the project is progressing toward its anticipated completion in 2027.
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