HRBT Tunnel Talk

HRBT Tunnel Talk follows the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel Expansion Project in Virginia. It is the largest ever construction project for the Virginia Department of Transportation. The series will explore funding, construction, employment opportunities, tunnel technology and benefits to the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Environmental Permitting 11/11/2024

Environmental Permitting 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. /episode/index/show/tunneltalktoday/id/33884032

The new HRBT Expansion Project Welcome Center 10/07/2024

The new HRBT Expansion Project Welcome Center 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. /episode/index/show/tunneltalktoday/id/33358727

Hampton Roads Express Lanes Network 09/12/2024

Hampton Roads Express Lanes Network 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. /episode/index/show/tunneltalktoday/id/33024762

Uncovering Archeological Discoveries on the HRBT Expansion Project 07/10/2024

Uncovering Archeological Discoveries on the HRBT Expansion Project 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. /episode/index/show/tunneltalktoday/id/32083442

Celebrating Historic Milestones - TBM breakthrough and what's coming up next for Mary 06/06/2024

Celebrating Historic Milestones - TBM breakthrough and what's coming up next for Mary 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. /episode/index/show/tunneltalktoday/id/31632977

Women in Maritime Construction 05/17/2024

Women in Maritime Construction 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. /episode/index/show/tunneltalktoday/id/31356597

Mary is So Boring! Learn about progress on the new tunnel. 01/09/2024

Mary is So Boring! Learn about progress on the new tunnel. 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? /episode/index/show/tunneltalktoday/id/29405288

Coordinating Construction in Hampton 11/20/2023

Coordinating Construction in Hampton 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. /episode/index/show/tunneltalktoday/id/28737388

Environmentally Speaking 06/21/2023

Environmentally Speaking 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. /episode/index/show/tunneltalktoday/id/27225555

The Role of the Slurry Treatment Plant PART 2 05/05/2023

The Role of the Slurry Treatment Plant PART 2 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. /episode/index/show/tunneltalktoday/id/26754075

The Role of the Slurry Treatment Plant - Reuse, Recycle, Reduce 03/01/2023

The Role of the Slurry Treatment Plant - Reuse, Recycle, Reduce 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. /episode/index/show/tunneltalktoday/id/26091876

Kids Ask 'Boring' Questions 11/16/2022

Kids Ask 'Boring' Questions 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. /episode/index/show/tunneltalktoday/id/25041972

Regionalism and Transportation Funding 09/23/2022

Regionalism and Transportation Funding 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. /episode/index/show/tunneltalktoday/id/24470685

Reassembling Mary the TBM 08/22/2022

Reassembling Mary the TBM 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. /episode/index/show/tunneltalktoday/id/24134925

What to Expect this Summer: Lane Closures Ahead 07/20/2022

What to Expect this Summer: Lane Closures Ahead 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! /episode/index/show/tunneltalktoday/id/23807369

Casting A New Tunnel 06/03/2022

Casting A New Tunnel 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. /episode/index/show/tunneltalktoday/id/23317871

HRBT Tunnel Talk Young Professionals 11/29/2021

HRBT Tunnel Talk Young Professionals 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. /episode/index/show/tunneltalktoday/id/21309917

DBE/SWaM Resources 10/15/2021

DBE/SWaM Resources 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. /episode/index/show/tunneltalktoday/id/20831828

HRBT Tunnel Talk Safety 09/08/2021

HRBT Tunnel Talk Safety 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. /episode/index/show/tunneltalktoday/id/20408339

HRBT Tunnel Talk Summer Construction 07/08/2021

HRBT Tunnel Talk Summer Construction 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. /episode/index/show/tunneltalktoday/id/19746926

HRBT Tunnel Talk Marine Construction 06/10/2021

HRBT Tunnel Talk Marine Construction 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. /episode/index/show/tunneltalktoday/id/19435268

HRBT Tunnel Talk North Island Reclamation 04/21/2021

HRBT Tunnel Talk North Island Reclamation In this episode, we get an update from Project Director Jim Utterback and Project Manager Megan Pym explains the North Island expansion process. /episode/index/show/tunneltalktoday/id/18807776

Naming the TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) Contest 10/16/2020

Naming the TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) Contest 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. /episode/index/show/tunneltalktoday/id/16432460

Preparing for the TBM 07/30/2020

Preparing for the TBM 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 HRBT South Island is percolating with activity to prepare the island for the massive Tunnel Boring Machine. /episode/index/show/tunneltalktoday/id/15412976

Preparing to Build 04/22/2020

Preparing to Build 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. /episode/index/show/tunneltalktoday/id/14102711

HRBT Expansion Project 01/08/2020

HRBT Expansion Project The new twin tunnels to be built at the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel will use tunnel boring technology. /episode/index/show/tunneltalktoday/id/12660233

DBE/SWaM Opportunities for HRBT Tunnel Expansion Project 11/14/2019

DBE/SWaM Opportunities for HRBT Tunnel Expansion Project 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. /episode/index/show/tunneltalktoday/id/12040901

Unlock the Gridlock 11/01/2019

Unlock the Gridlock 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. /episode/index/show/tunneltalktoday/id/11876957

HRBT Tunnel Talk

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