Puente-túnel de la Bahía de Chesapeake, (U.S.A.)

The total project involves 20 km of road over shallow waters two tunnels, each 1,500 m long, two bridges, four artificial islands, 2,000 m of road over dykes, and approximately 9 km of approach roads. The total length of the work is 26 km, and the width of the pavement is 8.50 m. The supports for the elevated road, over the bay water, consist of palisades of three cylindrical, reinforced concrete, piles, connected with a cross member. The two underwater tunnels were prefabricated in sections, at the workshop, and were then transported in pontoons, and placed at the bottom of a trench, which had been previously dredged out. Finally the joints were sealed, and the diaphragms which initially closed the ends of each section were opened, when the structure was in its final position. The project is undoubtedly interesting because of its variety, size and length, and also on account of the difficulties of undertaking the sea works in relatively deep waters.