Transportation 2023: RYAN BANAS

Banas oversees the $3.9 billion Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel expansion, the largest transportation infrastructure project in state history. Aimed at increasing capacity and easing congestion, the project will widen existing four-lane segments along
10 miles of the Interstate 64 corridor in Norfolk and Hampton, and also will add twin underwater tunnels crossing the harbor. Running about a year behind schedule, the project is expected to be completed in 2026.

Overseeing daily administration of the HRBT project, Banas directly manages a team of 110 employees, including Virginia Department of Transportation staff. He’s also overseeing Hampton Roads Connector Partners, the joint venture designing and building the project, which has about 1,000 workers.

A project manager with HNTB for the past 10 years, Banas also has worked on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel expansion, the Arlington National Cemetery Southern Expansion and the Elizabeth River Tunnels project. Prior to HNTB, he spent five years as assistant construction manager with Parsons Brinckerhoff (now WSP USA), working on projects including the Gilmerton Bridge replacement in Chesapeake and the Woodrow Wilson Bridge in Alexandria.

Banas has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.