The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel allows
you to see the mighty surge of the
Atlantic Ocean, the beauty of the
Chesapeake Bay, and the soaring grace
of an engineering marvel. Both a tourist
attraction and travel convenience,
the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel saves
you time and distance between Virginia
Beach/Norfolk and points northeast
of Wilmington, Delaware.
The Bridge-Tunnel
project is a four-lane 20-mile-long
vehicular toll crossing of the lower
Chesapeake Bay. The facility carries
US 13, the main north-south highway
on Virginia's Eastern Shore, and provides
the only direct link between Virginia's
Eastern Shore and south Hampton Roads,
Virginia. The crossing consists of
a series of low-level trestles interrupted
by two approximately one-mile-long
tunnels beneath Thimble Shoals and
Chesapeake navigation channels.
The manmade islands,
each approximately 5.25 acres in size,
are located at each end of the two
tunnels. There are also high level
bridges over two other navigation
channels: North Channel Bridge and
Fisherman Inlet Bridge. Finally, 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.
Toll collection facilities are located
at each end of the facility.
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, cast
a line, birdwatch, or just take in
the natural beauty and sounds of the
Chesapeake Bay.
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