Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel

[74/171FAN]

Are there any plans to reopen the rest area and store? It was a great place to stop.

The store/restaurant is gone forever.  I am unsure if the piers will reopen eventually.

[Alps]

Are there any plans to reopen the rest area and store? It was a great place to stop.

The store/restaurant is gone forever.  I am unsure if the piers will reopen eventually.

I agree with both of the above.

[froggie]

As I understand things, the plan is to reopen a fishing pier at the end of the project.  But as noted, the store/restaurant is permanently gone.  Including them would have been into the 9-digits in cost because of how much the south island would have to be expanded to make space.

[Ted$8roadFan]

Are there any plans to reopen the rest area and store? It was a great place to stop.

The store/restaurant is gone forever.  I am unsure if the piers will reopen eventually.

Too bad. The CBBT is so unique that it deserves its own tourist gathering spot.

[roadman65]

Is there room on one of the other three islands to build a new store and eatery?

[froggie]

Not without expanding those islands.

[plain]

There's room on Fisherman's Island but it's of course a wildlife refuge, so that's out.

I'm sure the CBBTC would rather leave out the operating costs for a new restaurant anyway, room for it or not.

[roadman65]

Why is the CBBT Thimble Shoal tunnel taking till 2027 to complete?

[froggie]

^ They're boring a deeper tunnel than what currently exists.

[hwyfan]

^ They're boring a deeper tunnel than what currently exists.

Delay also has arisen from a sub-contractor neglecting to renew a federal marine permit.  Once expired, the CBBT had to reapply for it.  The large "armourstone" boulders on the island have proven difficult to drill through. 

Another delay occurred because a sub-contractor had tremendous difficulty with constructing the concrete walls necessary for setting, launching and receiving the tunnel boring machine. 

Construction of the parallel Thimble Shoal Tunnel began in 2017 with an anticipated completion date of 2022.  This has been reevaluated and the project is now expected to be completed in 2027. 

In contrast, it only took 4 years to build the entire 17.3 miles of the original Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (1960-1964). 

[Rothman]

I thought the original twinning actually went quickly as well.

[hwyfan]

I wonder, whether given the extent of difficulty that has occurred with constructing the parallel Thimble Shoal Tunnel on the existing islands 1 and 2, whether they might consider constructing two new islands for the eventual Chesapeake Channel parallel tunnel project.

[vdeane]

I wonder, whether given the extent of difficulty that has occurred with constructing the parallel Thimble Shoal Tunnel on the existing islands 1 and 2, whether they might consider constructing two new islands for the eventual Chesapeake Channel parallel tunnel project.

Ironically, two new islands was the original plan for Thimble Shoal until they cheaped out.  I wonder if they regret that...

[18 wheel warrior]

Are there any plans to reopen the rest area and store? It was a great place to stop.

The store/restaurant is gone forever.  I am unsure if the piers will reopen eventually.

Too bad. The CBBT is so unique that it deserves its own tourist gathering spot.

IIRC,  the CBBTC had signed a new contract with the operator to keep it running. Shortly after that, engineers said it wouldn't be possible. The gift shop will remain at the rest area located at the north toll plaza.

I do recall a statement that the fishing pier would re-open after the construction was completed. Of course, someone could change his/her mind later. 

[18 wheel warrior]

^ They're boring a deeper tunnel than what currently exists.

Delay also has arisen from a sub-contractor neglecting to renew a federal marine permit.  Once expired, the CBBT had to reapply for it.  The large "armourstone" boulders on the island have proven difficult to drill through. 

Another delay occurred because a sub-contractor had tremendous difficulty with constructing the concrete walls necessary for setting, launching and receiving the tunnel boring machine. 

Construction of the parallel Thimble Shoal Tunnel began in 2017 with an anticipated completion date of 2022.  This has been reevaluated and the project is now expected to be completed in 2027. 

In contrast, it only took 4 years to build the entire 17.3 miles of the original Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (1960-1964). 

Adding to delays was when the TBM struck a 100+ year old anchor that set the project back 6 months....

[ixnay]

Are there any plans to reopen the rest area and store? It was a great place to stop.

The store/restaurant is gone forever.  I am unsure if the piers will reopen eventually.

Too bad. The CBBT is so unique that it deserves its own tourist gathering spot.

IIRC,  the CBBTC had signed a new contract with the operator to keep it running. Shortly after that, engineers said it wouldn't be possible. The gift shop will remain at the rest area located at the north toll plaza.

I do recall a statement that the fishing pier would re-open after the construction was completed. Of course, someone could change his/her mind later.

To the bolded, IIRC keeping the South Island gift shop was nixed because of the expense required to widen the island to accomodate it.

[ixnay]

^ They're boring a deeper tunnel than what currently exists.

Delay also has arisen from a sub-contractor neglecting to renew a federal marine permit.  Once expired, the CBBT had to reapply for it.  The large "armourstone" boulders on the island have proven difficult to drill through. 

Another delay occurred because a sub-contractor had tremendous difficulty with constructing the concrete walls necessary for setting, launching and receiving the tunnel boring machine. 

Construction of the parallel Thimble Shoal Tunnel began in 2017 with an anticipated completion date of 2022.  This has been reevaluated and the project is now expected to be completed in 2027. 

In contrast, it only took 4 years to build the entire 17.3 miles of the original Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (1960-1964). 

Was that on schedule?  Because I remember reading where the March 1962 nor'easter that battered much of the east coast from Hatteras northward wrecked the special pile driver used for the CBBT.  They had to build a new pile driver.

[roadman65]

^ They're boring a deeper tunnel than what currently exists.

Delay also has arisen from a sub-contractor neglecting to renew a federal marine permit.  Once expired, the CBBT had to reapply for it.  The large "armourstone" boulders on the island have proven difficult to drill through. 

Another delay occurred because a sub-contractor had tremendous difficulty with constructing the concrete walls necessary for setting, launching and receiving the tunnel boring machine. 

Construction of the parallel Thimble Shoal Tunnel began in 2017 with an anticipated completion date of 2022.  This has been reevaluated and the project is now expected to be completed in 2027. 

In contrast, it only took 4 years to build the entire 17.3 miles of the original Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (1960-1964). 

Was that on schedule?  Because I remember reading where the March 1962 nor'easter that battered much of the east coast from Hatteras northward wrecked the special pile driver used for the CBBT.  They had to build a new pile driver.

10 years to build it.

Well at least Texas joins them in Corpus Christi in getting the new Harbor Bridge built. So they're not alone.

[froggie]

Are there any plans to reopen the rest area and store? It was a great place to stop.

The store/restaurant is gone forever.  I am unsure if the piers will reopen eventually.

Too bad. The CBBT is so unique that it deserves its own tourist gathering spot.

IIRC,  the CBBTC had signed a new contract with the operator to keep it running. Shortly after that, engineers said it wouldn't be possible. The gift shop will remain at the rest area located at the north toll plaza.

I do recall a statement that the fishing pier would re-open after the construction was completed. Of course, someone could change his/her mind later.

To the bolded, IIRC keeping the South Island gift shop was nixed because of the expense required to widen the island to accomodate it.

Correct.  IIRC, the figure floating around at the time of the decision was along the lines of $50 million in order to keep the gift shop and restaurant.

[Ted$8roadFan]

That's too bad. I enjoyed my visit to the shop back in the day.

[roadman65]

That's too bad. I enjoyed my visit to the shop back in the day.

A new era has come.  Life moves forward, but we all have our memories.

[roadman65]

https://www.wboc.com/news/chesapeake-bay-bridge-tunnel-chessie-finishes-the-job/article_c8b00178-df55-11ef-999e-97e5e8b6addb.html

A breakthrough finally.

[epzik8]

It would be funny if "Parallel" were kept in the new tunnel's name once it opens