Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel

TOTAL IMMERSED LENGTH:
Thimble Shoal Channel: 1750 m
Baltimore Channel: 1661 m
DEPTH AT BOTTOM OF STRUCTURE(s):
Thimble Shoal Tunnel: 31.4 m
Chesapeake Tunnel: 32.1 m
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS: Severe storm exposure. Hurricane destroyed the “Big D” jackleg platform. A storm
caused one element to slide down trench some 4 m.
immersed
between Virginia Beach and Cape Charles,
United States
t21
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel District.
Joint venture of Tidewater Construction Corp., Merritt-Chapman & Scott Corp, Raymond International Inc, and Peter Kiewit Sons Co
Sverdrup & Parcel and Associates, St Louis
91.4m
Thimble Shoal Channel: 1750 m Baltimore Channel: 1661 m
Thimble Shoal Tunnel: 31.4 m Chesapeake Tunnel: 32.1 m

Project construction

1964-04-30
Thimble Shoal Channel: 19 Chesapeake Channel: 18
One tube; two lanes, one each way
11.25m
11.25m
Part of the 29 km crossing of Chesapeake Bay. The immersed tunnel consisted of two
separate tunnels under the two shipping channels: (1) the Thimble Shoal Channel and
(2) the Chesapeake Channel. Construction was accomplished in virtually open ocean
conditions. Tunnels terminated in man-made islands, similar to those constructed for the
first Hampton Roads Tunnel.
Shipyard in Orange, Texas; end-launched. Trimmed with
extra weight of concrete at “stern” 4 ft low for better ocean
towing.
At dock near tunnel site.
Severe storm exposure. Hurricane destroyed the “Big D” jackleg platform. A storm
caused one element to slide down trench some 4 m.
Catamaran barges
Tremie concrete joints
Continuous steel shell
Screeded bedding.
3 m of selected backfill