Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel Totally Explained

Everything about The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-tunnel totally explained

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (CBBT) is a 23 mile (37 km) long facility that connects the Delmarva Peninsula with southeastern Virginia in the United States. It crosses the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay and connects the independent cities of Virginia Beach and Norfolk, Virginia to Cape Charles in Northampton County along with the rest of the eastern shore of Virginia.
The bridge-tunnel uses a combination of bridges and tunnels over and under two widely separated shipping channels, using four artificial islands built in the bay as portals. The CBBT complex carries U.S. Route 13, the main north-south highway on Virginia's Eastern Shore, and, as part of the East Coast's longstanding Ocean Highway, provides the only direct link between Virginia's Eastern Shore and South Hampton Roads regions, as well as an alternate route to link the Northeast and points in between with Norfolk and the Carolinas.
Financed by toll revenue bonds, the bridge-tunnel was opened on April 15, 1964.

Key features are two one-mile tunnels beneath Thimble Shoals and Chesapeake navigation channels and two high-level bridges (75 ft; 23 m) over two other navigation channels: North Channel Bridge and Fisherman Inlet Bridge. The remaining portion comprises 12 miles (19 km) of low-level trestle, two miles of causeway, and four man-made islands.

Man-made islands, each approximately 5.25 acres (21,000 m²) in size, are located at each end of the two tunnels. Between North Channel and Fisherman Inlet, the facility crosses at-grade over Fisherman Island, a barrier island which includes the Fisherman Island National Wildlife Refuge administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The Bridge-Tunnel's concrete supporting columns are called piles. If placed end to end, the piles alone could reach from New York to Philadelphia.

Toll collection facilities are located at each end of the facility. Tolls are paid in each direction, before crossing. As of 2006, the toll for cars (without trailers) traveling along the CBBT is $12. However, should a car make a return trip within 24 hours of the first, the second trip across only costs $5. 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, by scrip tickets issued by the CBBT or via E-ZPass electronic toll collection. The Bridge-Tunnel began accepting Smart Tag/E-ZPass payments on November 1, 2007.

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel saves motorists 95 miles (152 km) and 1½ hours on a trip between Virginia Beach/Norfolk and New York. The $12 toll is partially offset by some savings of tolls in Maryland and Delaware on I-95.

Since it opened, more than 67 million vehicles have crossed the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.

It is mandatory that the bridge be checked and serviced every five years. Since servicing the bridge takes about five years, the work never stops.

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel is unique in that it employs its own Police Department to patrol the entire Bridge Tunnel complex. Its police department, by original charter from the Commonwealth, has jurisdiction throughout Virginia.

Sea Gull Island is located on the southernmost of the Bridge-Tunnel's four manmade islands, 3-1/2 miles from Virginia Beach. This island provides the traveling public an opportunity to stop, stretch their legs, grab a bite to eat, fish, birdwatch, or just take in the natural beauty and sounds of the Chesapeake Bay. An interpretive display of the construction of the Bridge-Tunnel is located just outside the Restaurant/Gift Shop.Further Information

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