Ted Williams Tunnel

HEIGHT: 12.29 m
WIDTH: 24.43 m
TOTAL IMMERSED LENGTH: 1,172.9 m
DEPTH AT BOTTOM OF STRUCTURE: 30 m
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:
Many environmental constraints regarding filling in harbour, spawning of fish, blasting,
siltation, work around and airside at Logan International Airport, and impacts from
harbour celebrations and activities such as “Sail Boston ‘92.”
FABRICATION METHOD:
At shipyard, elements assembled in drydock two at a time
and floated out. Each tube floated onto large ocean-going
submersible barge (106 x 30 m) for tow to Boston. Tow
made using a single 9,000 HP ocean tug direct route
between Norfolk, VA., and Cape Cod, Mass.
t87-ted-williams
Boston, Massachusetts,
United States
(Boston Harbour)
t87
Massachusetts Highway Department
Morrison Knudsen/Interbeton/J.F. White joint venture
Preliminary Design: Bechtel/Parsons Brinckerhoff. Final Design: Sverdrup Corporation.
98.30m
1,172.9m
30m

Project construction

1994-05-01
12
Two tubes; two lanes each tube
12.29m
24.43m
Much of tunnel trench excavated through hard argellite rock. Immersed tunnel ends
incorporated into very deep cofferdams. Depth at cofferdams at bottom of end elements
more than 20 m below sea level. First use of Omega gasket in a U.S. tunnel
At shipyard, elements assembled in drydock two at a time
and floated out. Each tube floated onto large ocean-going
submersible barge (106 x 30 m) for tow to Boston. Tow
made using a single 9,000 HP ocean tug direct route
between Norfolk, VA., and Cape Cod, Mass.
At pier near tunnel site
Many environmental constraints regarding filling in harbour, spawning of fish, blasting,
siltation, work around and airside at Logan International Airport, and impacts from
harbour celebrations and activities such as “Sail Boston ‘92.”
From catamaran barges. Remotely controlled wedges used for horizontal alignment.
Double gasket system
commonly used in U.S., but
with Omega secondary
gasket. Joint detail provides
for thermal expansion of
joints.
Steel shell and Omega gasket closures. Closure plate detail not used on this project.
Screeded foundation.
0.6 m of protective rock over 0.9 m of gravel