HRBT Tunnel Talk

Sean Johnson has a keen eye out for movement and unforeseen changes at the HRBT Expansion Project. In this installment of HRBT Tunnel Talk, hear Sean explain how he relies on “invisible” measurements to help detect changes in and around the construction environment.

She recently got a BIG BOOST to help her complete a new twin tunnel. Listen to find out where Mary is Now.

National Engineers Week in February celebrates the amazing accomplishments of talented men and women who improve the quality of our lives. The HRBT Expansion Project that includes many talented engineers. In this edition of HRBT Tunnel Talk, we meet four individuals transforming transportation in Virginia.

Barges, tugs, boats and bridges. The HRBT Expansion Project team coordinates it all.  And the Team brings an impressive portfolio of experience to the project, including work in New York City, post 9-11. Learn more about managing the maritime works of the expansion project in the latest installment of HRBT Tunnel Talk.

A new bridge-tunnel project like the HRBT Expansion starts with environmental permitting.  And for this project, there are more than 22 permits that require various levels of approval and constant monitoring. That responsibility for VDOT falls with Larissa Ambrose, the project's environmental manager.  In this edition of HRBT Tunnel Talk, we learn from Larissa about the many challenges of her job.

The HRBT Expansion Project is rolling out the welcome mat to the public. The project has an official Welcome Center which will soon be open for STEM learning, community engagement and meetings, tunnel history and more! Tune into HRBT Tunnel Talk for details on what you can expect to find at the HRBT Welcome Center.

HRBT Expansion Project Communications Director Paula Miller is joined by Project Director Ryan Banas, VDOT District Engineer Chris Hall, and HRTAC Executive Director Kevin Page on this episode that provides an overview of the Hampton Roads Express Lanes (HREL) network,  a continuous 45-mile network of Express Lanes on I-64, extending from west of Denbigh Boulevard in Newport News to the I-264/I-664 Bowers Hill interchange in Chesapeake, providing enhanced travel options to accommodate the future transportation needs of the Hampton Roads region.

HRBT Expansion Project Communications Director Paula Miller is joined by Project Director Ryan Banas for an update on the project, along with archeological experts David Lewes, Co-Director of William and Mary's Center for Archeological Research, Adam Pritchard, Virginia Museum of Natural History's Assistant Curator of Paleontology, and Will Moore, Virginia Department of Transportation's Lead Archeologist. Learn about the historic and prehistoric finds, from shipwrecks to mastadon bones.

Project Director Ryan Banas joins Communications Manager Paula Miller to share the milestones achieved on the project this spring. VDOT Construction Engineer Lion Nitschke discusses tunneling progress for Virginia's first bored roadway tunnel and the process of turning the TBM around to start the second tunnel. 

To celebrate International Day for Women in Maritime, the latest episode of HRBT Tunnel Talk features two project engineers, Linh Do and Sophia O'Brien, to talk about island expansion and bridge rehabilitation, while Project Director Ryan Banas provides an update on the project. 

HRBT Tunnel Talk Host Brooke Grow is joined by Project Director Ryan Banas who provides an update on the progress across the project. Podcast guest, HRCP Project Manager Louis Brais provides the 411 on the progress of Mary, the Tunnel Boring Machine, under the channel as she works to construct VDOT's first bored tunnel for the HRBT Expansion Project.  Who knew that boring could be so exciting?

HRBT Expansion Project Communications Manager, Brooke Grow, provides an update on the construction progress. Special guests include VDOT District Senior Communications Specialist, Nina Ullrich, and City of Hampton Communications Strategist, Robin McCormick, to discuss the collaboration needed to coordinate multiple construction projects in Hampton.   

HRBT Tunnel Talk Host Brooke Grow is joined by new Project Director Ryan Banas who provides an update on the project. Then Brooke explores the environmental aspects (fish and turtles and birds, oh my!) of the project with guests Larissa Ambrose, VDOT Environmental Manager, and Becky Gwynn, Executive Deputy Director of the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.

Learn more about the ins and outs of Katherine the Slurry Treatment Plant (STP). HRBT Tunnel Talk Host Brooke Grow is joined by HRCP's Ancillary Equipment Manager Javier Fernandez, as well as TBM and STP Manager George Mizzi. They'll discuss how Katherine interacts with Mary the TBM to excavate and create the new tunnels.

Learn more about Katherine the Slurry Treatment Plant (STP), the counterpart to Mary the TBM in the tunnel boring process. HRBT Tunnel Talk Host Brooke Grow is joined by HRCP's Ancillary Equipment Manager Javier Fernandez, as well as TBM and STP Manager George Mizzi. They'll describe the STP and provide an overview of how Katherine works. 

Ever wonder what goes on in the mind of a child? Now, you can hear it firsthand. Communications Manager Brooke Grow and Staff Engineer Philip Casteen answer a myriad of colorful and creative questions that kids have about the HRBT Expansion Project. 

With a price tag of $3.9 billion, the HRBT Expansion Project was a huge undertaking made possible through regional cooperation. Catch up on project progress with Project Director Jim Utterback and hear about regional transportation funding from the Honorable Mayor Donnie Tuck of Hampton, and chair of the Hampton Roads Transportation Accountability Commission. 

In this episode, Project Director Jim Utterback shares an update on the project and HRCP's Carlos Ramo provides insight into what goes into reassembling Mary, the Tunnel Boring Machine. 

What does an Olympian have to do with the HRBT Expansion Project? Find out on this episode. Project Director Jim Utterback provides a project update, while VDOT's Bradley Weidenhammer and HRCP's Brian Ballard share planned construction activities, lane closures and tips for traveling through the project corridor. Plus, find out how you can take part in future podcasts!  

In this episode, meet Brooke Grow, the new host of this boring podcast, get an update from Project Director Jim Utterback, and learn about how the new tunnel is currently being constructed from Hampton Roads Connector Partners' Aurelien Gil.

Project Director Jim Utterback provides an update on the progress of the project. Hear from two young professionals about their career in transportation and their path to the HRBT Expansion Project.

In this episode, hear about the project's progress from Project Director Jim Utterback and learn about opportunities and resources for small, women and minority owned businesses from VDOT Civil Rights Manager Queen Crittendon and HRCP Compliance Manager Malcolm Kates.

Project Director Jim Utterback gives a project update and Virginia State Police Sgt. Michelle Anaya and HRCP's Jeff Singleton join the podcast to provide valuable safety information for motorists traveling through the project corridor. 

With summer comes increased construction activities to widen I-64 between Settlers Landing Road in Hampton and the I-564 interchange in Norfolk. In this episode, HRCP Communications Manager Steve Meyers will share details about the construction activities planned along the project corridor and the tools that can help you navigate the impacts.

In this episode, hear from Project Director Jim Utterback on increased construction activities and Project Manager Rob Gianna shares an overview of the marine construction activities, including the marine trestle bridges that connect the islands with the mainland. Please subscribe to our podcast!

In this episode, we get an update from Project Director Jim Utterback and Project Manager Megan Pym explains the North Island expansion process. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast for further updates.

A Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) will bore twin tunnels next to the existing Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnels as part of Virginia’s largest-ever construction project. And, the big, bold machine will get a name before it comes out of final production.  The Virginia Department of Transportation  (VDOT) has launched a TBM Naming Contest aimed at school age children  On this next installment Of HRBT Tunnel Talk, we learn more about how the machine will get its name.    Be sure to subscribe to this podcast.  

As the Design-Builder for Virginia's largest construction project awaits Notice to Proceed, early work is underway on the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel Expansion Project.  The South Island is percolating with activity to prepare the island for the massive Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) which will bore twin tunnels parallel to the existing tunnels.   In the latest installment of HRBT Tunnel Talk, Paula Miller talks with Project Director Jim Utterback about the significant effort it takes to obtain such a large permit, and she learns about 8 months of preliminary island work from Xavier Billy,  the Construction Manager for the Tunnel Approach Structures.     Please subscribe to our podcast!

Preparing to build the HRBT Expansion Project, Virginia's largest-ever construction project, didn't happen overnight.  Before you mine and widen under and over water, state and federal agencies have to sign off on plans. In the latest installment of HRBT Tunnel Talk, Paula Miller, VDOT's Communications Manager, interviews the project director and the owner and contractor's environmental experts about the vitally important preparations.   Be sure to subscribe to the show.

The new twin tunnels to be built at the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel will use tunnel boring technology.   The existing tunnels are immersed tubes. In the latest installment of HRBT Tunnel Talk find out more about the Tunnel Boring Machine which will make a deep dive to dig parallel tubes.    Be sure to subscribe to the show!

In this podcast, host Paula Miller explores the opportunities for DBE/Small, Women and Minority (SWaM) - owned businesses that hope to participate in the  new Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel Expansion Project. Guests include: Malcolm Kates (DBE/SWAM Compliance Manager for the Hampton Roads Connector Partners - HRCP) Queen T. Crittendon (VDOT Hampton Roads District Civil Rights Manager)  

In this podcast host Paula Miller talks with Kevin Page (Executive Director of the Hampton Roads Transportation Accountability Commission) about the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel Expansion project. VDOT’s largest ever construction project.