NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Mary the tunnel boring machine broke through on the second tunnel Wednesday afternoon as part of the HRBT expansion project.
Mary started working on completing the second tunnel October 2024, after completing the first one earlier that year in April.
The tunnels are apart of a nearly $4 billion expansion project, which is the largest in Virginia history. The goal of the project is to widen the highway in both directions with the hope of mitigating traffic between the Southside and the Peninsula.
“We like to refer to it as our eight-lane mega trestle,” HRBT expansion project director Ryan Banas told WAVY 10’s Andy Fox in May. “The structure we’re standing on will support eight lanes of travel, four in either direction.”
Once Mary completes the tunneling, jet fan ventilation, fire suppression system and roadway must be installed. The full expansion project is set to be completed by late February 2027.
Unfortunately for Mary she will be dismantled after she completes the boring, as the machines are uniquely designed for each project.
NOTE: This video is live footage of Mary the tunnel boring machine breaking through