Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, Virginia

“When you cross a bridge, you can take a break from this world!”

Mehmet Murat Idan

After our Outer Bank adventure, we were heading north and decided to take the scenic route over Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel which would save us about an hour and a half travel time. An added bonus was that we were able to drive over this modern engineering wonder. This amazing bridge-tunnel is 17.6 miles across the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, the Hampton Road Harbor, and the James and Elizabeth Rivers in Virginia.

The tunnel is up ahead.

As we approached the toll gate which fortunately had no lines, I took out my money and paid the $18 fee to cross this amazing bridge-tunnel that connects south east Virginia with the Delmarva Peninsula.   If you travel Friday through Sunday and during the peak season, the toll is $18.  If you travel off peak, it will cost you $14.  Yes, it is quite expensive but worth it to save time, help support the care of this structure, be able to see this beautiful bay, and experience this man made marvel. 

The tunnel starts at that building. 

By the summer of 2020, the toll booths will all be automated with no cash options. They are hoping that will help keep the traffic moving, especially during the summer months. They also offer a great service, that if you are too nervous to drive over this civil engineering wonder, you can arrange ahead of time to have an escort drive you across.

Midway on the bridge with fog ahead.

This 200 million dollar structure was opened on April 15, 1964 taking 43 months to build and was selected as “One of the seven engineering wonders of the modern world”. Then in 1965 it won “The outstanding civil engineering achievement” by the American Society of Civil Engineers. They built a parallel bridge in the late 1990’s that took an additional 39 months and a cost of $200 million. Since it opened, over 130 million commercial and passenger vehicles have crossed it.

Fog is getting closer. 

This bridge-tunnel replaced the ferries that at one time use to cross the bay. The ferries ran from the 1930’s to 1954. Then the planning began for making this modern structure, which is now considered the worlds largest bridge-tunnel complex.

Just about to disappear in the fog. 

There are more than 12 miles that you drive across a low-level trestle, 2 one mile tunnels, 2 bridges, 2 miles of causeway, four 1500 feet man made islands, and 5 ½ miles of approach roads which total 23 miles long in total. It takes about 25 minutes to cross.

When we were driving over the low-level trestle it is a little scary since we were driving not far off the water. We were at eye level with the Pelicans soaring over the waves fishing for their dinner. This ride never gets old no matter how many times you drive over it. We have driven over it many times and have always enjoyed the ride.

Weather has cleared some. 

The first time we drove over this bridge was when Joe and I were newlyweds, we were moving to Virginia Beach. Joe drove one vehicle, I drove another, and his father drove our U-haul trailer over this bridge. How frightened we were then seeing this wide open expanse for the first time and not seeing land from either side. At that time it was only one lane traffic both ways and at times it felt as if the lanes just weren’t big enough for two vehicles side by side.

There is a 625 foot Sea Gull fishing pier, bait and tackle shop, and gift shop all located on one of the man made islands. There had been a restaurant there as well but now they are all closed and it looks like the restaurant will be closed permanently. That always made a nice stop to get out and stretch our legs, look at the majestic views of the bay and the ships passing, grab a bite to eat, and check out what the fishermen were catching. It was like deep sea fishing for them but without getting on a boat. I’m sure they will miss it until it reopens in 2023 when the project is completed. They started construction of this parallel tunnel in 2017 and is slated to be completed by the end of 2022. This is a 755 million dollar project adding this tunnel which will sit at a depth of 40 to 50 feet below the surface.

Back to beautiful weather.   

There are strict rules about wind conditions and when you can or can not drive across this structure. They have different levels for the miles per hour winds to determine which vehicles are allowed to travel over this vast expanse. Once the winds speed is up to 40 mph they restrict large vehicles like RV’s, and house trailers to drive over. By the time level 5 is reached which is 65 mph winds, only cars can drive over. Once it hits level 6 – the structure is closed to all traffic.

It is hard to imagine driving over this bridge-tunnel with high winds. I wonder if waves crash over the road way since parts of the bridge are so low. That feeling of having the wind push you ever so close to the rails, must be terrifying.

Since this bridge was opened there have been 79 traffic fatalities and 15 vehicles have fallen from the bridge. Just recently, a car was traveling over 100 mph over this bridge. The police started to chase the car but noticed he had a child unrestrained with no seat belt on so instead they put up spike strips at the end of the bridge. They reported no injuries from this incident.

In spite of the dangers of this bridge, it is worth a trip over at least once. It is an amazing experience. What a modern marvel that has captured the attention of people for over 55 years. Try it and see. Bye for now.