Major Tunnel Projects

Last Updated: 09/28/2010

• Tunnels Recently Completed
  • Bremerton Tunnel, Bremerton, WA - A cut-and-cover tunnel to convey vehicles coming off of the WSDOT ferries such that pedestrians and incoming vehicles are not impeded by the unloading ferry traffic. Completed late 2009, for $31M.
• Tunnels Under Construction
  • I-5/SR-16 Interchange Tunnel - 850-ft tunnels will carry mainline traffic from eastbound SR 16 under I-5 to merge with northbound I-5 traffic.
  • Central Artery Tunnels, MA - The project spans 7.8 miles of highway, 161 lanes miles in all, about half in tunnels.
  • No Name Tunnel Rehabilitation, CO - Existing 2-bore tunnel, 2-lane each bore, 1045 ft long.
  • Devils Slide Tunnel, CA - Two 4,000-foot tunnels would be built between Pacifica and McNee Ranch State Park in Montara, bypassing a 1.2-mile stretch of Highway 1
  • Caldecott 4th Bore, CA is on SR 24 between SR 13 and Gateway Blvd interchange and is a 3400 foot long single bore tunnel.
  • Wheeling Tunnel, WV - Finishes and systems are being rehabilitated. Wheeling Tunnel, WV – I-70 westbound tube; Finishes and systems are being rehabilitated. Started January 2010, completion is scheduled for October  2010.
  • Squirrel Hill Tunnels, PA - This project is for the rehabilitation of the Squirrel Hill Tunnels on I 376 (Parkway East) in the Squirrel Hill section of the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County. The Squirrel Hill Tunnel, built in 1955, consists of two bores that pass through Squirrel Hill in Pittsburgh, PA, carrying two lanes of one-way traffic in each direction for S.R. 0376 (Parkway East). The tunnel consists of twin arch-shaped reinforced concrete bores that are 4,225 feet long and approximately 29'-4" feet wide with a cast-in-place concrete ceiling separating the arch from the traveled lanes of the tunnel bores to form a plenum which provides ventilation for the tunnel. This ceiling was constructed 14'-2" above the roadway at its centerline and is supported by steel hangers at the tunnel centerline. The tunnel has eight cross-passageways which connect the tunnel bores and are spaced at approximately 503 foot intervals. The work for this rehabilitation does include the repair of deteriorated concrete surfaces of the tunnel walls, arched tunnel roof, tunnel cross passageways, and tunnel portal buildings. This work also includes the rehabilitation and improvement of the existing tunnel lighting, ventilation, and life safety systems to the current requirements of the accepted design standards and as directed by the District. The construction is currently planned to begin in 2012 and an estimated construction schedule of either 2 or 3 years.
• Tunnels Under Design
  • Port of Miami Tunnel, FL - Twin barrel, 4-lane, subaqueous tunnel from the Port of Miami (formerly Dodge Island) to the mainland.
  • Drumanard Tunnel, Louisville, KY - Extension of I-265 from I-71 to the proposed Ohio River Bridge approximately 1.7 miles including a partial interchange with US 42 and a 2000 ft. tunnel under US 42 and the Drumanards Estate Historic property.
• Tunnels in Conceptual Stages
  • Gowanus Expressway Tunnel Alternatives, NY - (Conceptual Design). The Gowanus Expressway Tunnel Alternative consists of replacing the existing elevated Gowanus Expressway (Brooklyn, NY) with two tunnels.
  • Midtown Tunnel, VA and Martin Luther King (MLK) Freeway Extension, VA- (http://www.midtowntunnel.org) The Midtown Tunnel is located from the interchange of the Martin Luther King (Route 58) and Western Freeways in Portsmouth to the Brambleton Avenue Interchange in Norfolk. The project consists of rehabilitation of the existing tunnel to include fire, life and safety modifications and construction of a new tunnel under the Elizabeth River, adjacent to the existing Midtown Tunnel. This will provide for an additional 2-lanes of capacity along the noted corridor.  The MLK Freeway Extension consists of extending the freeway south  from London Blvd in the City of Portsmouth, with new interchanges at High Street and Interstate 264 (a four-lane, limited access freeway) to provide a direct connection from I-264 to the Midtown Tunnel between Portsmouth and Norfolk.
  • Downtown Tunnel, VA - The Downtown Tunnels on I-264 cross the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River linking Portsmouth with Norfolk. The Downtown Tunnel connects to Interstate 464 which leads to Chesapeake and is a continuation of I-264 to the downtown and Waterside areas of Norfolk, and on to Virginia Beach. The project consists of rehabilitation of the existing tunnel to include fire, life and safety modifications to the existing tunnels.
  • Hampton Roads Third Crossing:
    1. I-564 to I-664 multi-modal connector  - New intermodal connector (I-564) from Terminal Boulevard past Hampton Boulevard in Norfolk to a new interchange with I-664 that is located south of the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge Tunnel (MMBT), VA – would consist of four general purpose and two multi-modal lanes constructed as a bridge-tunnel;
    2. New bridge tunnel parallel to I-664 Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel (MMBT) Widen the I-664, MMBT from Newport News to the I-664/I-564 Interchange, VA with the addition of four general purpose and two multi-modal lanes.  This section will be a bridge tunnel that is constructed west of the existing facility.
       Project Status:  These segments were originally part of the Hampton Roads Third Crossing Public Private Transportation Act (PPTA) proposal, which was cancelled on 08/29/2005.  These segments are, however, still being considered in the Hampton Roads 2030 Long Range Plan for Preliminary Engineering only.  More information is available at http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/ppta3rdXingHome.asp
  • Aspen Approach Tunnel, CO
  • Coronado Tunnel, CA - The City of Coronado is looking to build two tunnels from the existing Coronado Bridge to the San Diego Naval station.