HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) — The second North Trestle bridge recently opened as part of the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel expansion project, as drivers heading west on Interstate 64 have been welcomed with a new traffic pattern coming out of the tunnel heading toward Hampton.
The eastbound North Trestle bridge opened in May 2024, allowing crews to use the original bridge as a staging area for westbound construction, with the new westbound North Trestle bridge built in the confined space between the bridges built in 1957 and 1972.
Major Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel traffic shift started overnight
The Virginia Department of Transportation said innovative beam launcher technology helped in placing more than half the girders needed to complete the new substructure without impacting adjacent travel lanes.
The new structure has been reinforced with more than 2 million pounds of corrosion-resistant stainless steel, and stands 33 feet at its tallest point, designed to minimize salt spray exposure.
This section of the HRBT expansion project, like the rest of it, has been engineered for a 100-year service life, with an upgraded design featuring modern expansion joints beneath the driving surface, allowing the new bridge decks to more efficiently expand and contract with seasonal temperature changes.
VDOT said the opening of the westbound North Trestle bridge marks the biggest milestone to date and also marks years of progress, including:
More than 8,000 cubic yards of concrete poured
The opening of the westbound North Trestle bridge will allow crews to demolish the two original structures, according to VDOT, which noted crews have completed all new eastbound lanes, and they continue a series of landside westbound traffic shifts in Norfolk this summer.
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