In December 2017, local sixth graders were invited to enter name suggestions for the new machine, which will bore a 42-ft.-diameter, one-mi.-long tunnel beneath the Thimble Shoal Channel in the Chesapeake Bay, a $756 million project.

Students from the Chesapeake Bay area have been hard at work coming up with names for the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel's tunnel boring machine.

In December 2017, local sixth graders were invited to enter name suggestions for the new machine, which will bore a 42-ft.-diameter, one-mi.-long tunnel beneath the Thimble Shoal Channel in the Chesapeake Bay, a $756 million project.

Vote Now!

You can vote daily for your favorite name among the ten finalists between Monday, April 2 and Friday, April 13, 2018 by clicking here. Names include:

• Bessy the Boring Bufflehead submitted by Caleb from Broadwater Academy
• Chessie submitted by Grace from Nandua Middle School
• Harriet submitted by Desmond from Occohannock Elementary School
• Katherine submitted by Nicholas from Virginia Beach Middle School
• Mary Jackson, Miracle Digger submitted by Adyana from Virginia Beach Middle School
• Ms. Taylor submitted by Shania from Kiptopeke Elementary School
• Nibi submitted by Kaitlyn from Virginia Beach Middle School
• Pocahontas submitted by Quinn from Broadwater Academy
• Soteria submitted by Sophia from Old Donation School
• Virginia submitted by Pedro from Occohannock Elementary School

Tradition dictates that a tunnel boring machine cannot begin its job until it has been named. Names given to tunnel boring machines are typically female as a good luck sign for the project. According to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel's website, the tradition dates back to early mining projects, when workers prayed to Saint Barbara, the patron saint of military engineers, miners and others who work underground, to bring them protection.

Today's top stories

Crews Orchestrate $41.3M Randy Owen Center for Performing Arts Project

NAPA Ends 2024 On High Note

ABC To Celebrate 75 Years of Building America at ABC Convention 2025 in Las Vegas

$954M Chickamauga Lock Replacement Project Continues

Ten Civil-War Era Bridge Piers Over Susquehanna River in Maryland Demolished by Amtrak

Ditch Witch JT21 Drill Slashes Job Times With Best-in-Class Power, Speed

Construction Site Safety Tips for New, Experienced Workers

Ian Aarsvold Joins Takeuchi-US as Southwest Region Product Manager