The machine was built in 2018, after some delays, and was shipped to Virginia. After boring, the machine will also be adding the circular concrete segments which will be delivered into the tunnel via mine cars one at a time. Construction was scheduled to finish in 2023. By August 2022, the second tunnel at Thimble Shoal had been delayed to 2027. Tunnel length: approximately Tunnel diameter: Inner diameter: Outer diameter: Construction cost: $755,987,318 Construction method: Bored tunnel Construction start (estimate): October 1, 2017 Construction completion (estimate): 2023 Maximum tunnel depth Crown—at its deepest location (mid-channel): below the water surface Invert—from the top of the roadway at its deepest location: below the surface Soil removal: the approximate amount of soil to be removed by the tunnel boring machine (TBM) is . Concrete sections: The tunnel will consist of approximately 9,000 individual concrete pieces. Approximately of concrete will be needed to make the tunnel sections. Chesapeake Channel Tunnel dualization (projected 2035–2040) At the northern end, a parallel Chesapeake Channel Tunnel will be added to finish the entire length to become a four-lane highway from shore to shore. This project is marked to begin in 2035, which would possibly be open for traffic in 2040, assuming there are no setbacks or delays. In 2021, the United States Department of Transportation loaned $338.6 million to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel District through the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act, with funds provided by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The loan would help pay for the construction of both parallel tunnels. Operations, maintenance, and regulations Toll collection facilities are located at both ends of the facility. Tolls are paid in each direction. As of 2019, the toll for cars (without trailers) traveling along the CBBT is $14 for off-peak or $18 for peak times (Friday through Sunday from May 15 to September 15). Should a car make a return trip within 24 hours of the first, the second trip across costs $6/$2 for off peak/peak season, but only with an EZ-Pass; cash or card payers must pay full fare. Motorcycles pay the same toll as cars without trailers. All other vehicles are charged based on size and purpose and are not subject to the return-trip discount. All tolls must be paid either in cash, debit/credit card, by scrip tickets issued by the CBBT, or via E-ZPass electronic toll collection. The bridge–tunnel began accepting Smart