VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP)- Construction of an additional tube for the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel is now two years behind schedule. The wrap-up date is now expected to be 2024.
The delay is due in part to the granite boulders that were used to build the bridge-tunnel 60 years ago. The project’s main contractors are using tunnel boring machines. But it’s taking longer than expected because of the boulders. The boulders help to form four artificial islands that anchor the portals of the bridge-tunnel’s original two original tubes.
When the CBBT first announced the plan to build a new tunnel several years ago I did not know of the existence of the Cape Charles Mirror. Did you exist then ? I did however know of and write to The Eastern Shore Post. The CBBT asked for our community support to construct a new tunnel. Hands down almost everyone gave that support. I have no problem with that. At the time Accomac County was telling us all that they needed I believe $6 million for a new library. I wrote the library and I wrote the E. Shore Post more than once and asked them to publish an idea. My idea was that The CBBT should buy Accomac a library in return for our public support.
It was stated at the time that the new tunnel would cost $800 million. I predicted then, that like many construction projects of this size, the CBBT would surely have delays and the project would end up easily costing over $1 Billion. Well what is being announced in this article ? I continued on by saying that the CBBT should support us for supporting them and pay cash for the Accomac library. Our depressed area needs the help. I suggested that $10 million in cash be set aside for that library. Why $10 Mil ? because if you pay cash the money goes a lot farther. Take $6 mil and construct the best damn library for our kids ( and I have none ) east of the Mississippi. Take the other $4 mil and escrow it to pay all the bills for the library forever. Taxpayer $ would never be needed and we could brighten the future of the next generation.
Go ahead and scoff at my idea. Who should give us $10 mil ? That’s a lot of money, right ? In perspective, it isn’t. Think about what we must be giving them if they are paying for this new tunnel. What was I really asking for ?
We smell the fumes, deal with the litter and the traffic, and what else do we get ? Oh for joy another Royal Farms. Would a library balance that out ?
Sit down with a calculator please. Punch in $1 billion. Then divide it by $10 million. The answer is 1% correct ? That 1% would have been a charitable donation and real support to our Shore and it’s future, just like the 100% support we gave the CBBT.
Too bad some people don’t recognize a good idea and help push it when they have the platform.
Don’t believe me ? Ask Brian or Teresa if someone asked them to support the idea years ago, if I could get the press interested. They never heard a word. Nor did I.
Sad