The Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel Expansion project in Virginia hit a milestone this week. The first of four gantries was extracted from the receiving pit.
The first gantry was lifted out onto the North Island. It will be turned around and placed back in the pit to join the tunnel boring machine as it gets ready to begin boring the second tunnel.
In June, the machine exited the first tunnel. Work on the second tunnel is expected to begin in September.
The gantry weighs 385 tons, and two 800-ton cranes were used to lift it up.
The $3.9 billion project aims to widen the current four-lane segments along approximately ten miles of the Interstate 64 corridor in Norfolk and Hampton. There will be new twin tunnels across the harbor.
The expansion project will increase capacity, ease congestion, and enhance travel time.
The HRBT Expansion Project is the largest in the history of the Virginia Department of Transportation. It is expected to wrap up in February 2027.
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Source: 3 WTKR, HRBTExpansion.org
