Hampton Road Bridge Tunnel (HRBT)

Virginia, USA

Variable Density TBM

Construction method

2 x 2,400 m

Excavated length

12.65m/14.05m

Internal Diameter / Excavation

1 TBM

TBM number

57m

Depth

The Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (HRBT) project is expanding one of Virginia’s busiest transport corridors through the construction of two new tunnels beneath Chesapeake Bay, designed to increase capacity and reduce congestion.

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The scheme addresses traffic volumes exceeding 100,000 vehicles per day during peak periods, significantly above the original design capacity of the existing infrastructure.

FlatironDragados (USA) is delivering the design-build project, which includes the duplication of the existing immersed-tube tunnel system through two new large-diameter parallel tunnels constructed beneath the bay.

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The project incorporates one of the largest variable-density slurry TBMs used on a US road infrastructure scheme, specifically designed to operate within marine sediments and reclaimed ground conditions.

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Project data

More than 100,000 vehicles/day

2 parallel tunnels of 2.4 km

743,000 m³ excavation volume

12.65 m internal diameter

14.05 m excavation diameter

Constructed beneath Chesapeake Bay

Variable-density slurry TBM

Delivered under a Design-Build contract

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