The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel project has reached a major milestone. Chessie, the tunnel boring machine that was clearing the way, completed her mining mission this week.
CBBT is adding a new two-lane tunnel that’s about a mile long. Chessie started working in February 2023, but in May 2023, she hit an obstruction that CBBT announced was a ship’s anchor made in England at the turn of the 20th century. Chessie was out of work for 8 months while it was removed.
In May 2024, Chessie returned to work pushing along at an average of about 50 feet a day, according to the CBBT. On Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, CBBT announced Chessie reached her destination on Two Island.
Mining was paused to allow the contractor time to remove the temporary bracing struts and steel beams that were in place at the receiving pit. On Wednesday, January 29, Chessie tunneled through the remaining portion of the receiving wall.
Chessie was designed and built specifically for this project. CBBT said she mined over 6,300 feet under Thimble Shoal Channel. Chessie removed approximately 500,000 cubic yards of soil and installed nearly 10,000 concrete segments, each weighing 10 tons, CBBT added.
Her work is now done. Chessie will be decommissioned and demobilized.
After Chessie is removed construction on the roadway inside the tunnel will begin along with installation of electrical/mechanical systems and the construction of support buildings.
Currently, CBBT forecasts the project will be completed in early 2028. Once complete, the new tunnel will carry two lanes of southbound traffic while the existing tunnel will carry two lanes of northbound traffic.
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