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Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel

Started by Mapmikey, November 21, 2016, 08:55:00 PM

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Alps

Quote from: cpzilliacus on July 18, 2021, 06:35:48 PM
Quote from: Alps on July 18, 2021, 01:31:50 PM
the existing tunnel is 2 lanes. they're not replacing it, they're adding a second one.

That is clearly correct for the tunnel that is being built now, Thimble Shoal,
the southern of the CBBT tunnels. Seagoing traffic headed for the Norfolk Naval
Station, the Ports of Virginia in Hampton Roads and the Port of Richmond (at the
head of navigation of the James River) all cross the CBBT by way of Thimble Shoal.

At one point early on, there was consideration given to building one new four
lane tube that would carry alll CBBT traffic and abandoning in place the existing
tunnel, but I am not sure that a four lane tube was even considered during the
EIS process that led to approval of the new bored Thimble Shoal Tunnel that is
now under construction (with some difficulty).

The north Chesapeake Tunnel is where seagoing traffic heads north toward the
Port of Baltimore.
I was not seeing anything with 4 lanes proposed for the north tunnel either.


cpzilliacus

Quote from: Alps on July 19, 2021, 01:08:34 AM
I was not seeing anything with 4 lanes proposed for the north tunnel either.

I believe you are correct.  The idea of a four lane tunnel to replace the two lane tunnel sounds good, but since the CBBTD mostly exists because of the tolls it collects, I suspect that they were properly reluctant to abandon a perfectly good tunnel (that might also anger the holders of CBBTD bonds).
Opinions expressed here on AAROADS are strictly personal and mine alone, and do not reflect policies or positions of MWCOG, NCRTPB or their member federal, state, county and municipal governments or any other agency.

froggie

As I recall (since I was still in Norfolk at the time), a new 4-lane tunnel to replace the existing 2-lane tunnel was the primary consideration early on (talking 2013-2014 here).  At some point, it was changed to a parallel 2-lane tunnel with rehab of the existing tunnel due primarily to cost increases.

cpzilliacus

Quote from: froggie on July 19, 2021, 10:14:58 AM
As I recall (since I was still in Norfolk at the time), a new 4-lane tunnel to replace the existing 2-lane tunnel was the primary consideration early on (talking 2013-2014 here).  At some point, it was changed to a parallel 2-lane tunnel with rehab of the existing tunnel due primarily to cost increases.

I think that is correct.  And there's also the matter of tunnel boring machines.  Is there one massive enough to bore a four lane tunnel?  The biggest I can think of was Bertha, which did the SR-99 tunnel in Seattle, which is two lanes on two decks.  The overhead clearance is less than 16' 0" (4.8 meters) at 15' 2" (4.6 meters).   

As a comparison, the current CBBT tunnels are restricted to no higher than 13' 6" (4.1 meters).
Opinions expressed here on AAROADS are strictly personal and mine alone, and do not reflect policies or positions of MWCOG, NCRTPB or their member federal, state, county and municipal governments or any other agency.

D-Dey65

Quote from: roadman65 on January 13, 2021, 01:21:52 PM
I stopped there many of times and even  took photos of the signs and tunnels there.
Oh, I took them too a while back. I'm only sorry I didn't have a digital camera back then.


kernals12

I clinched this along with I-64 and I-664 on Tuesday. It was really cool.

I also learned at the Hampton Roads Naval Museum that barnacles that accumulate on the bridge piers make great habitat for fish.

plain

Quote from: froggie on July 19, 2021, 10:14:58 AM
As I recall (since I was still in Norfolk at the time), a new 4-lane tunnel to replace the existing 2-lane tunnel was the primary consideration early on (talking 2013-2014 here).  At some point, it was changed to a parallel 2-lane tunnel with rehab of the existing tunnel due primarily to cost increases.

I'm late (not sure how I missed this before). That original 4-lane tunnel was going to be deeper to allow a better draft for vessels passing over it (basically Post-Panamax). But yeah costs were definitely the issue.
Newark born, Richmond bred

D-Dey65

#132
I'm trying to refresh my memory on the Hazmat regulations on the bridge and tunnel

http://www.cbbt.com/travel-information/hazmat-regulations/

So does this mean that one of my uncles who has COPD and is on a portable breathing machine and may or may not need oxygen tanks simply can't ride along the bridge as a passenger?



Mapmikey

Quote from: D-Dey65 on March 31, 2022, 07:32:25 PM
I'm trying to refresh my memory on the Hazmat regulations on the brudge and tunnel

http://www.cbbt.com/travel-information/hazmat-regulations/

So does this mean that one of my uncles who has COPD and is on a portable breathing machine and may or may not need oxygen tanks simply can't ride along the bridge as a passenger?




no


From http://www.cbbt.com/travel-information/hazmat-regulations/
Quote(2) Class 2, division 2.1 flammable gas is permitted provided quantities do not exceed 120 gallons in 6 gallon containers or less, with exceptions for LPG, which is restricted to two 60 pound cylinders LPG capacity, approximately 141 pounds water capacity each, or any combination of cylinders less than 60 pounds LPG capacity, with a total of 120 pounds LPG capacity;

jeffandnicole

Quote from: D-Dey65 on March 31, 2022, 07:32:25 PM
I'm trying to refresh my memory on the Hazmat regulations on the brudge and tunnel

http://www.cbbt.com/travel-information/hazmat-regulations/

So does this mean that one of my uncles who has COPD and is on a portable breathing machine and may or may not need oxygen tanks simply can't ride along the bridge as a passenger?


As was pointed out above, even a regular propane tank isn't banned.  The signage doesn't spell it out, but most tunnel restrictions are for mass quantities and CDL drivers, not Jane and Joe in their sedan, SUV, or even camper.

Mapmikey

I was surprised to see the amount of radioactive material that is allowed over the CBBT.  This may be because medical isotopes needed on the Eastern Shore come from Norfolk, etc. and it would be prohibitively expense to have to transport these (generally) short-lived materials by helicopter or plane.  Also residual radioactive waste of the longer-lived materials would be headed to locations not in the Northeast.  The limitation for them would be the 500 pounds CBBT threshold.  300 Curies is a large quantity of radioactive material (in terms of how many atoms are decaying per second, not its mass - 300 Curies of Radium-226 would be just 300 g of actual material) and medical radioactive waste is quite unlikely to be anywhere near that much.  The mass comes from objects that have/ may have come into contact with the radioactivity (gloves, gowns, tubes, etc.)

By contrast, the Baltimore tunnels disallow any amount (not sure about amounts considered exempt from DOT and/or NRC regulations) of any radionuclide.  This is overly restrictive because many of the radioactive materials that would use the tunnels (lots of hospitals that use medical isotopes) are in tiny amounts relative to any harm they could do and they often have very short half-lives.

D-Dey65

Has anyone else ordered the podcasts pm the CBBT Northbound and Southbound tours? I have to edit my soundfiles form those, because they keep showing up on my PC as "Unknown artist" and "Unknown album."


roadman65

#137
https://goo.gl/maps/qXoDKo9Syao1XwQm6
Noticed that on North Thimble Shoal Island not that much activity is taking place as is on the other side.
Every day is a winding road, you just got to get used to it.

Sheryl Crowe

abqtraveler

#138
Quote from: Mapmikey on April 01, 2022, 09:41:17 AM
I was surprised to see the amount of radioactive material that is allowed over the CBBT.  This may be because medical isotopes needed on the Eastern Shore come from Norfolk, etc. and it would be prohibitively expense to have to transport these (generally) short-lived materials by helicopter or plane.  Also residual radioactive waste of the longer-lived materials would be headed to locations not in the Northeast.  The limitation for them would be the 500 pounds CBBT threshold.  300 Curies is a large quantity of radioactive material (in terms of how many atoms are decaying per second, not its mass - 300 Curies of Radium-226 would be just 300 g of actual material) and medical radioactive waste is quite unlikely to be anywhere near that much.  The mass comes from objects that have/ may have come into contact with the radioactivity (gloves, gowns, tubes, etc.)

By contrast, the Baltimore tunnels disallow any amount (not sure about amounts considered exempt from DOT and/or NRC regulations) of any radionuclide.  This is overly restrictive because many of the radioactive materials that would use the tunnels (lots of hospitals that use medical isotopes) are in tiny amounts relative to any harm they could do and they often have very short half-lives.
The Navy's Atlantic Fleet is anchored at the Norfolk Naval Base. The fleet includes a number of nuclear-powered ships, particularly aircraft carriers and subs. Given that, it would be logical for the CBBT to be a designated route for the transport of nuclear material (spent and unspent) to and from the navy base at Norfolk.
2-d Interstates traveled:  4, 5, 8, 10, 15, 20, 24, 25, 27, 29, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 45, 49, 55, 57, 64, 65, 66, 69, 70, 71, 72, 74, 75, 76(E), 77, 78, 81, 83, 84(W), 85, 87(N), 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95

2-d Interstates Clinched:  12, 22, 30, 37, 44, 59, 80, 84(E), 86(E), 238, H1, H2, H3, H201

Mapmikey

Quote from: abqtraveler on January 26, 2023, 05:18:28 PM
Quote from: Mapmikey on April 01, 2022, 09:41:17 AM
I was surprised to see the amount of radioactive material that is allowed over the CBBT.  This may be because medical isotopes needed on the Eastern Shore come from Norfolk, etc. and it would be prohibitively expense to have to transport these (generally) short-lived materials by helicopter or plane.  Also residual radioactive waste of the longer-lived materials would be headed to locations not in the Northeast.  The limitation for them would be the 500 pounds CBBT threshold.  300 Curies is a large quantity of radioactive material (in terms of how many atoms are decaying per second, not its mass - 300 Curies of Radium-226 would be just 300 g of actual material) and medical radioactive waste is quite unlikely to be anywhere near that much.  The mass comes from objects that have/ may have come into contact with the radioactivity (gloves, gowns, tubes, etc.)

By contrast, the Baltimore tunnels disallow any amount (not sure about amounts considered exempt from DOT and/or NRC regulations) of any radionuclide.  This is overly restrictive because many of the radioactive materials that would use the tunnels (lots of hospitals that use medical isotopes) are in tiny amounts relative to any harm they could do and they often have very short half-lives.
The Navy's Atlantic Fleet is anchored at the Norfolk Naval Base. The fleet includes a number of nuclear-powered ships, particularly aircraft carriers and subs. Given that, it would be logical for the CBBT to be a designated route for the transport of nuclear material (spent and unspent) to and from the navy base at Norfolk.

There's no way new or spent fuel meets the 500 lb limit and spent fuel almost certainly exceeds the 300 Ci limit.

It appears new fuel comes from Tennessee.  Spent fuel is sent to Idaho.  Neither of these require the CBBT anyway.

ixnay

Quote from: Mapmikey on January 27, 2023, 04:02:08 PM
There's no way new or spent fuel meets the 500 lb limit and spent fuel almost certainly exceeds the 300 Ci limit.

It appears new fuel comes from Tennessee. 

Where in Tennessee?  Oak Ridge (of Manhattan Project noteriety)?

QuoteSpent fuel is sent to Idaho.  Neither of these require the CBBT anyway.

Where in Idaho?  And what's done with it there?

And how much nuke fuel for Norfolk moves by rail?

Mapmikey

Quote from: ixnay on January 27, 2023, 05:16:55 PM
Quote from: Mapmikey on January 27, 2023, 04:02:08 PM
There's no way new or spent fuel meets the 500 lb limit and spent fuel almost certainly exceeds the 300 Ci limit.

It appears new fuel comes from Tennessee. 

Where in Tennessee?  Oak Ridge (of Manhattan Project noteriety)?

QuoteSpent fuel is sent to Idaho.  Neither of these require the CBBT anyway.

Where in Idaho?  And what's done with it there?

And how much nuke fuel for Norfolk moves by rail?

Spent fuel information is here.  It is shipped by rail.
https://www.nwtrb.gov/docs/default-source/meetings/2016/august/miles.pdf?sfvrsn=12

New fuel comes from Erwin TN
https://www.bwxt.com/what-we-do/naval-nuclear-propulsion

Henry

Quote from: cockroachking on March 30, 2023, 01:18:17 AM
Quote from: mgk920 on March 30, 2023, 01:01:32 AM

Isn't the CBBT authority planning the 'twin' its tunnels?

Mike
The Thimble Shoal Tunnel is currently being twinned. (Latest update from CBBT)
Hopefully there'll be a much smoother procedure than there was with Bertha in Seattle.
Go Cubs Go! Go Cubs Go! Hey Chicago, what do you say? The Cubs are gonna win today!

wdcrft63

Quote from: Henry on March 30, 2023, 10:53:40 AM
Quote from: cockroachking on March 30, 2023, 01:18:17 AM
Quote from: mgk920 on March 30, 2023, 01:01:32 AM

Isn't the CBBT authority planning the 'twin' its tunnels?

Mike
The Thimble Shoal Tunnel is currently being twinned. (Latest update from CBBT)
Hopefully there'll be a much smoother procedure than there was with Bertha in Seattle.
Very different procedure. Bertha was a huge machine to bore through rock. In the Chesapeake the procedure is to dredge a trench for the tunnel, float tunnel sections up and sink them into place. No boring needed.

jeffandnicole

Quote from: Henry on March 30, 2023, 10:53:40 AM
Quote from: cockroachking on March 30, 2023, 01:18:17 AM
Quote from: mgk920 on March 30, 2023, 01:01:32 AM

Isn't the CBBT authority planning the 'twin' its tunnels?

Mike
The Thimble Shoal Tunnel is currently being twinned. (Latest update from CBBT)
Hopefully there'll be a much smoother procedure than there was with Bertha in Seattle.

And I don't think it's been as smooth as they had hoped, as plans have already changed.

roadman65

Every day is a winding road, you just got to get used to it.

Sheryl Crowe

davewiecking


LM117

"I don't know whether to wind my ass or scratch my watch!" -Jim Cornette

plain

2027. At this point, any more delays might push the date to 2030. Sheesh
Newark born, Richmond bred

Ted$8roadFan

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



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