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  4. Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel Expansion Project

Boring excitement

To accommodate southeastern Virginia’s ever-growing capacity needs in the coming decades, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is undertaking a $3.9 billion expansion of the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (HRBT).

WSP serves VDOT as the Engineering Consultant for the oversight of the design-builder contractor, Hampton Roads Connector Partners (HRCP), for the design and construction of the HRBT Expansion Project.

Since its opening in 1957, the HRBT has played a crucial role in the region’s infrastructure, particularly for Hampton and Norfolk, as well as other communities in Hampton Roads.

The HRBT carries approximately 100,000 vehicles daily through the east-west corridor of Interstate 64, making it one of the region’s busiest crossings. It’s essential for the Port of Virginia, as it enables more efficient traffic and supports the Port’s commercial shipping operations. Hampton Roads is also home to the largest naval base in the world, Naval Station Norfolk, which makes the HRBT critical for regional military logistics.

Rendering from the WSP archives shows the design of the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (HRBT) in 1969, prior to the construction of the second tunnel. WSP has worked with the Virginia Department of Transportation on a number of projects for the HRBT, dating back to the original tunnel's opening in 1957.
Credit: ©Virginia Department of Transportation


Project Value

  • $3.9 billion

Project Status

  • Ongoing

Designing, building for tomorrow

The HRBT Expansion is expected to nearly double the tunnel’s daily vehicle capacity. The bridge tunnel’s four lanes will be expanded to eight, with four reserved for high-occupancy vehicles or solo drivers who pay a toll. This resulting capacity is modeled to suit the region’s needs for the next 25 years.

As the owner’s representative for this 10-mile interstate widening initiative, we play a critical role in oversight and management, ensuring compliance across design, construction, and commercial aspects.

With approximately 85 personnel on-site, including 30 WSP employees, we also provide comprehensive project controls management, contract management, change order development, cost estimating, schedule oversight, and document control management. The project controls team has also implemented project tracking systems to document the status of key elements of work.

 


The South Island is a focal point of the HRBT expansion project.
Credit: ©Virginia Department of Transportation

Mary makes way

The HRBT Expansion Project marks the first tunnel boring project for VDOT, and at 46 feet in diameter for each of the twin bore tunnels, it’s also the second largest tunnel boring endeavor in U.S. history.

This impressive tunneling is being accomplished thanks to Mary, the 430-foot-long tunnel boring machine, nicknamed after the pioneering African-American aerospace engineer and Hampton native Mary Winston Jackson.

Mary completed boring the first tunnel in April 2024 and the second tunnel broke through on September 24, 2025.

WSP’s tunneling experts support VDOT in oversight activities and inform key decisions throughout the tunneling operations, ensuring that the design-builder’s plans and execution meet the rigorous standards necessary for such a high-profile and technically demanding project.

The new tunnels will alleviate long-standing traffic bottlenecks and establish advanced engineering solutions that will set a precedent for the region’s future infrastructure projects.

Environmental stewardship

To address ecological risks to the Chesapeake Bay and James River, we deployed a dedicated environmental team to ensure that construction activities comply with regional, state, and federal permits and regulations.

For example, one of the more notable environmental challenges is the protection of Colonial Nesting Birds that migrate to the project site annually. These winged birds tend to nest on the North and South Islands, where tunnel construction is heavily concentrated.

If nesting occurs, a mandatory construction exclusion zone is triggered, which could severely disrupt project timelines. We’re mitigating this concern with the help of four-legged associates: “bird dogs,” who are trained to gently deter birds from landing and nesting in active construction zones.

This proactive measure helps maintain construction momentum while also protecting wildlife.

Being part of this project is truly inspiring. It’s not only going to reshape how this community moves and connects. It also represents a bold step forward in engineering and collaboration.

Building progress

We have a long history of project work at the HRBT site, going back to its beginnings in the 1950s where WSP designed the original HRBT, the first tunnel in history to be constructed between man-made islands.

Our work on the HRBT Expansion Project began in April 2019. In those early stages, we established review protocols for design plans and began oversight of construction activities, while our field teams—such as construction engineers, senior inspectors, and environmental specialists—ensured compliance with contractual obligations.

As of September 2025, the current construction phase is progressing rapidly towards final system installations. Recent milestones are focused on the completion of mining operations and the ramp-up of construction activities, particularly in the tunnel interior systems, and our experts’ oversight on the installation of critical fire and life safety systems for public safety, such as jet fans and mechanical/electrical components.

Additionally, the project has made significant progress in marine bridge construction and roadway widening, supported by our local experts and project controls team.

Once finished, the newly expanded HRBT will deliver transformative benefits to the region, such as improved daily commute times, enhance economic activity and greater access to one of the East Coast’s largest ports and to the world’s largest naval installation.

The North Trestle Bridge city of Hampton to the North Island.
Credit: ©Virginia Department of Transportation

Meet the Visioneer

As a project manager, Senior Vice President Michelle Martin brings visionary leadership and deep local knowledge to the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel Expansion Project, guiding a team that’s helping to set a bold precedent for future infrastructure in Virginia.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime project—not only for the Hampton Roads community, but for me personally. I was born and raised in this area, and I’ve experienced firsthand the challenges of traffic through the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel. This expansion has been needed for decades, and to witness the cutting-edge technology and expertise being applied to make it happen is truly inspiring. I’m incredibly proud to be part of a team delivering such a transformative project for Virginia.
Length of new bored tunnels
7,900 ft
Depth of new bored tunnels
>170 ft below the harbor

Other challenges that we have overcome

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