Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, Bridge-tunnel complex in Virginia Beach and Northampton County, United States.
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel is a combined bridge and tunnel system in the state of Virginia that crosses the Chesapeake Bay for roughly 28 kilometers. The structure alternates between elevated roadway sections and underwater passages, with man-made islands serving as transition points between the two levels.
The crossing opened in April 1964, replacing ferry operations that had handled traffic across the bay since the 1930s. In the late 1990s, an expansion added extra lanes to accommodate increased traffic demand.
This route marks the geographic divide between the remote Eastern Shore and the rest of Virginia, with the two sections linked by the passage over and under the water. Commuters and travelers use it daily as a practical alternative to the former ferry services that once offered the only way across the bay.
Drivers pay toll charges that vary according to vehicle size and may differ depending on the time of day. The route offers rest areas on the man-made islands, where motorists can stop and take in the view of the water.
The tunnel sections dive beneath the bay's main shipping lanes, allowing cargo vessels and naval ships to pass overhead while road traffic continues beneath their keels. At the man-made islands, anglers can be seen casting lines from the shores for bay fish.
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