July 2025 Edition

Summer is in full swing and so is construction season at the HRBT Expansion Project. Our crew’s recent efforts have given motorists an opportunity to drive on newly widened roadway and bridges in Norfolk. Additionally, we achieved a significant milestone as westbound traffic was shifted onto a temporary bridge as it nears South Island. These seemingly small, but significant, shifts will allow for continued construction well into 2026. But don’t be fooled, we’re not done in 2025 yet! Expect more traffic shifts and huge milestones as we prepare our new South Trestle to receive its first lanes of traffic and as Mary gets closer to her second breakthrough.

We appreciate your patience and diligence in being role models for our summertime guests here in Hampton Roads. Please continue to be alert in our work zones and stay tuned into our social media, newsletter, and traffic updates as we continue to bring recently improved roadways and bridges online. Remember; put down your phone, focus on the road and drive safe!

Ryan

(Nearing) Light at the End of the Tunnel

Mary The TBM, with the help of HRBT Expansion crews erected the 1,000th ring of the twin tunnel on July 22, 2025, leaving just 193 rings to go before breakthrough.

Mary The Tunnel Boring Machine is steadily mining her way toward early Fall completion of the second bored tunnel at the HRBT. As she makes the uphill climb toward reemergence onto the South Island, Mary's capabilities are put to the test. Fine grained soils, such as clay, make up the final layers she must excavate through as she approaches the surface.

Mary's record of 66 rings installed in one week in June 2025 was achieved in large part due to the great teamwork between the TBM and Katherine the Slurry Treatment Plant. Katherine was able to make quick work of the coarse-grained sandy soils found deep beneath the bay bottom. The top layers of the bay stretch Katherine and her limits to quickly process spoils, removing soil particles half the thickness of a human hair in size. These fine particles require more time to separate from the slurry and result in a more moderate pace as Mary reaches the end of her work.  

The steady pace Mary is on sets her up well to break her own record of completing the first tunnel in 51 weeks. As crews near South Island they are working diligently to best their previous accomplishment.  

South Island Supports Tunnel Boring Operations

Mary is approaching the 1,000-ring mark, with a total of 1,193 rings needed to form the second tunnel. While Mary presses toward the finish line, slurry treatment, tunnel portal and approach structure crews on South Island are diligently preparing for her arrival.

Katherine continues to support mining operations, processing approximately 600 tons of soil per ring before transferring the spoils to barges for disposal. Also on South Island, Hampton Roads Connector Partner crews have started concrete pours for the TBM cradle where the cutterhead and shield will rest in the receiving pit after breakthrough.

Once Mary finishes her mission, the tunnels still need significant work before they are ready for traffic. There’s roadway to be formed, along with fire suppression and jet ventilation systems to be installed. Island and trestle crews, meanwhile, work to complete tie-ins to the mega-trestle connecting the tunnels to the Norfolk shoreline.

Island crews prepare the new tunnel approach (left) for tie-in to the new South Trestle where marine crews are currently placing girders for the new westbound lanes (right).

The Road to HRBT's New Tunnels: Interior Progress

Inside the HRBT's first bored tunnel works continues as a feverish pace. Since June, crews have completed placement of the tunnel's roadway base along the entire length of the tunnel. The milestone allows crews to complete the tube's new egress structures and drainage systems.

More than 2,000 FT of pipe has been laid in the new tunnel to support the collection of water, as well as the pumping of water back to the surface for treatment. Water main and fire main installations are also progressing steadily, bringing critical life safety systems closer to completion. In addition, over 5,000 feet of L-wall and more than 2,000 feet of plenum wall have been constructed to support the tunnel’s emergency egress corridors.

As for the new eastbound general-purpose (free) tunnel where Mary is currently boring, phase one of ballast placement nears 20% completion.

A New Temporary Westbound Bridge Feeds Into HRBT

Sometimes seemingly insignificant changes make room for much larger improvements.

That’s the case for the recent westbound traffic shift at the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel. Crews recently completed construction of a new temporary bridge that carries traffic from the existing westbound trestle as it meets South Island. Now crews are poised to start demolition of the existing bridge and construction of a new connection between South Island and the 139-foot wide eight-lane mega trestle that stretches to Willoughby Spit. 

The seamless transition occurred overnight on July 9 to accommodate the next phase of construction. Click here to view the traffic shift.

Girders Go Up on Mallory Street

& More Landside Progress

Above: Mallory Street Bridge is HRBT's only overpass spanning Interstate 64. VDOT diverted traffic overnight during the weekend of July 25th to accommodate beam placement for the new second half of the bridge.

Below: Crews prepare for pre-pour inspection at the Mallory Street median as part of expansion efforts in Hampton.

The final phase of the new Mallory Street Bridge in Hampton is taking shape this month as HRCP crews set girders for the north side of the new Mallory Street Bridge during multiple nights over the weekend of July 25.



Although crews have already placed hundreds of girders for the nearly ten-mile expansion project, only the Mallory Street bridge spans the interstate, requiring some unique considerations. Challenges for crews included placement of a large crane in the eastbound median to hoist precast beams over Interstate 64. In addition to intermittent westbound stoppages, VDOT diverted eastbound traffic off the interstate at the Mallory Street off-ramp and right back onto the interstate from the Mallory Street on-ramp to I-64 East.

VDOT appreciates the public’s continued patience while the HRBT Expansion project is underway. Stay in the know about upcoming travel impacts with the weekly lane closure report.

Sign up to receive a weekly list of scheduled detours, lane closures, and stoppages via email at hrbtexpansion.vdot.virginia.gov/traffic-alerts/.

Pile driving for the Evans Street eastbound abutment advanced Norfolk's landside work in July.

Parapet placement continues on Bay Avenue and other landside bridges.

A Bidwell is erected for concrete placement following completion of deck reinforcement on 13th View Street Bridge in Norfolk.

Tunnel Talk, Straight Talk

HRBT's Regional Reach

Residents from Yorktown and Newport News received project updates and a copy of the latest HRBT Expansion Magazine at Tabb Senior Center in July.

HRBT Expansion team members continue outreach through Hampton Roads to increase awareness and highlight the monumental undertaking. July was full of opportunities for staff to interact with the current and future traveling public.

Engagement since the last edition of the monthly newsletter included visits to Tabb Senior Center in Yorktown, Lamberts Point Community Center's Norfolk Navigators Teen Camp, Cape Henry Rotary, and Thalia Civic League in Virginia Beach. The Welcome Center also opened its doors to host summer camps including Norfolk Academy Museum Madness and a second session for STARBASE Victory Portsmouth Public School Coders in addition to the twice monthly open house.



Upcoming HRBT Open House Hours

9401 4th View Street Norfolk, VA 

Sunday, August 10

12 p.m. - 3 p.m.

Wednesday, August 27

10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

More than 250 Hampton Roads students and their chaperones have traveled to the HRBT Welcome Center in Norfolk since the start of the summer. The STEM learning trip had special meaning for 100 students visiting from the Mary Jackson Neighborhood Center in Hampton. The project’s tunnel boring machine is named for Mary Jackson, Hampton native and NASA’s first black engineer. In addition to learning about the Mary Jackson connection, the campers participated in tunnel trivia and hands-on activity of assembling paper TBM models.

Since construction began in 2019, the HRBT Expansion Project has become a second home for the nearly 2,000 people working daily to deliver the 10-mile interstate expansion project. Working on the diverse team is David Martin, a Chesapeake, VA native and a VDOT construction engineer with 12 years of experience—the past six of those dedicated to the HRBT Expansion.

Martin’s journey to becoming an engineer for the project began in Norfolk at Old Dominion University where he began studying business but switched his major, earning a Bachelor of Science in engineering technology with an emphasis in mechanical engineering. With his degree in hand and a passion for mechanical systems, Martin launched his career as a field coordinator conducting on-site inspections for plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems.

As VDOT's construction engineer overseeing the project's mechanical, electrical, and intelligent transportation systems, he serves as a liaison between HRCP and VDOT facilities and operations teams. His job is to help the design-builder uphold department standards by reviewing their designs, technical proposals, and operations schedules. Since joining the HRBT Expansion team, Martin has played a key role in turning design concepts into reality. Now, as tunnel boring concludes and new sections of bridges open, the project's electrical and mechanical components are becoming increasingly critical to overall progress.

Outside work, Martin enjoys a fulfilling life dedicated to family and public service. He, his wife of 34 years and their two adult children share passions for NASCAR, autocross racing, gardening, traveling and bowling. Martin also has dedicated the last 14 years to mentoring the Churchland High School's robotics team. He uses the opportunity to empower the next generation of STEM leaders and values helping students develop practical skills and confidence through technology.

For anyone interested in STEM careers, Martin suggests exploring the range of opportunities the field has to offer, whether by visiting museums, or engaging in educational programs or hands-on experience.

In the July episode of the HRBT Tunnel Talk Podcast, Communications Director Paula Miller is joined by project Safety Manager Randy Reale and Communication Specialist ZaMari Love to discuss how the HRBT Expansion is engaging local youth and future leaders in STEM this summer. The pair have been on the frontlines of Welcome Center engagement including a twice-a-month open house, stakeholder visits, and camp sessions since the building's opening in 2024.

Tune in to the conversation at http://bit.ly/4eCiVfa.

As early as late July, contractor crews with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) are scheduled to begin implementing a long-term, single-lane closure in the center of I-64 at J. Clyde Morris Boulevard (exit 258), starting in the eastbound direction, followed by westbound in early August.

One center lane will close on I-64 east and west at J. Clyde Morris Boulevard, reducing travel lanes from four to three. Motorists will split around the work zone using either the two inside left lanes or the one outside right lane.​ All three of the remaining travel lanes will accommodate I-64 through traffic. However, motorists must use the outside right travel lane to access exits 258A or 258B to J. Clyde Morris Boulevard. Watch this video for a walk-through of the traffic split.

Crews are scheduled to implement the traffic split on I-64 east starting as early as the week of July 27, with I-64 west to follow in early August. The traffic split is estimated to be in place through fall 2025.

This latest traffic pattern is the second of three phases of long-term, single-lane closures and traffic shifts on I-64 at J. Clyde Morris Boulevard to facilitate bridge rehabilitation work as part of construction of the Hampton Roads Express Lanes (HREL) Newport News Segment.

To learn more about the HREL Newport News Segment, visit https://www.vdot.virginia.gov/projects/major-projects/64expresslanes/about-hrel/newport-news-segment-4a4b/.