Chesapeake Bay Bridge

Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel (Virginia Bay Bridge)

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel (CBBT) is a 23-mile (37 km) fixed link crossing at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay in the U.S. state of Virginia. It connects the Delmarva Peninsula with Virginia Beach and the Hampton Roads metropolitan area.

The Virginia bridge–tunnel originally combined 12 miles (19 km) of trestle, two 1-mile-long (1.6 km) tunnels, four artificial islands, four high-level bridges, approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) of causeway, and 5.5 miles (8.9 km) of approach roads—crossing the Chesapeake Bay and preserving traffic on the Thimble Shoals and Chesapeake shipping channels. It replaced vehicle ferry services which operated from South Hampton Roads and from the Virginia Peninsula from the 1930s until completion of the bridge–tunnel in 1964. The system remains one of only ten bridge–tunnel systems in the world, three of which are located in Hampton Roads, Virginia.

Interesting Facts about the Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel

Since it opened, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel has been crossed by more than 100 million vehicles.

The bridge–tunnel saves motorists 95 miles (153 km) and 1½ hours on a trip between Virginia Beach/Norfolk.

Official Name: Lucius J. Kellam, Jr. Bridge-Tunnel

Operated by: The Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel Commission

Route: US 13 connecting Virginia Beach/Norfolk to Virginia's Eastern Shore

Total Length (including approach roads): 23 miles

Length Toll Plaza to Toll Plaza: 20 miles

Length Shore to Shore: 17.6 miles

Depth of water along Route: 25 to 100 feet

Opening Date: Northbound: April 15, 1964 ,  Southbound: April 19, 1999

Awards: 

*American Society of Civil Engineers 1965 award for "Outstanding Engineering Achievement"

*Designated "One of Seven Engineering Wonders of the Modern World" in 1965

Construction Features:  12 miles of low-level trestle, 2 one-mile-long tunnels, 2 bridges, 2 miles of causeway, 4 man-made islands and 5-1/2 miles of approach roads.

Trestles:  Length 12.3 miles

Northbound width 28 feet curb-to-curb

Southbound width 36 feet curb-to-curb

Tunnels (Trench Type):

Thimble Shoal Tunnel: 5,552 feet in length, portal to portal

Chesapeake Channel Tunnel: 5,237 feet in length, portal to portal

Source : http://www.cbbt.com