A bridge–tunnel is a persistent, unbroken road or rail connection across water that uses a combination of bridges and tunnels , and sometimes causeways , and does not involve intermittent connections such as drawbridges or ferries .
63-513: The Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel ( CBBT , officially the Lucius J. Kellam Jr. Bridge–Tunnel ) is a 17.6-mile (28.3 km) bridge–tunnel that crosses the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay between Delmarva and Hampton Roads in the U.S. state of Virginia . It opened in 1964, replacing ferries that had operated since the 1930s. A major project to dualize its bridges was completed in 1999, and in 2017
126-428: A car make a return trip within 24 hours of the first, the second trip across costs $ 6/$ 1 for off peak/peak season, but only with an EZ-Pass; cash or card payers must pay full fare. 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, debit/credit card, by scrip tickets issued by
189-661: A household in the county was $ 28,276, and the median income for a family was $ 385,034. Males had a median income of $ 26,842 versus $ 21,839 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 16,591. About 15.80% of families and 20.50% of the population were below the poverty line , including 29.20% of those under age 18 and 16.50% of those age 65 or over. Northampton County is home to the United States' oldest continuous court records. STAR Transit provides public transit services for both Northampton and Accomack counties. Northampton County Public Schools operates public schools in
252-482: A pile driver barge called "The Big D", were destroyed. Seven workers were killed at various times during the construction. In April 1964, 42 months after construction began, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel opened to traffic and the ferry service discontinued. The Ferry Commission and transportation district it oversees, created in 1954, were later renamed for the revised mission of building and operating
315-621: A settlement in the Colony of Virginia . After sailing across the Atlantic Ocean from England, they reached the New World at the southern edge of the mouth of what is now known as the Chesapeake Bay . They named the two flanking Virginia points of land /capes like gateposts at the entrance to the long extensive estuary after the sons of their king, James I , the southern Cape Henry , for the eldest and presumed heir, Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales , and
378-619: A similar project was started to dualize one of its tunnels. With 12 miles (19 km) of bridges and two one-mile-long (1.6 km) tunnels , the CBBT is one of only 14 bridge–tunnel systems in the world and one of three in Hampton Roads. It carries US 13 , which saves motorists roughly 95 miles (153 km) and 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 hours on trips between Hampton Roads and the Delaware Valley and points north compared with other routes through
441-621: A toll facility in perpetuity". The tunnel sections addressed concerns that a bridge failure across critical shipping lanes would block not only shipping but navy access. The CBBT is often confused with the similarly named Chesapeake Bay Bridge , which crosses the Chesapeake Bay farther north in Maryland connecting Annapolis and Kent Island . In December 1606, the Virginia Company of London sent an expedition to North America to establish
504-478: Is 17.6 miles (28.3 km) long from shore to shore, crossing what is essentially an ocean strait. Including land-approach highways, the overall facility is 23 miles (37 km) long (20 miles [32 km] from toll plaza to toll plaza) and despite its length, there is a height difference of only six inches (150 mm) from the south to north end of the bridge–tunnel. Artificial islands, each approximately 5.25 acres (2.12 ha) in size, are located at each end of
567-520: Is water. As of the census of 2010, there were 12,389 people, 5,321 households, and 3,543 families residing in the county. The population density was 63 people per square mile (24 people/km ). There were 6,547 housing units at an average density of 32 units per square mile (12 units/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 57.9% White , 36.5% Black or African American , 0.2% Native American , 0.7% Asian , 0.1% Pacific Islander , 3.2% from other races , and 1.4% from two or more races. 7.1% of
630-513: The G40 Shanghai–Xi'an Expressway from the north bank to the south bank via two islands and is about 65 km (40 mi) in total length. Northampton County, Virginia Northampton County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia . As of the 2020 census , the population was 12,282. Its county seat is Eastville . Northampton and Accomack Counties are a part of
693-610: The Monitor–Merrimac Memorial Bridge–Tunnel , both of which cross the harbor at Hampton Roads , and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel , a 37-kilometer-long (23 mi) structure (including approach highways) that crosses the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay with a combination of bridges and tunnels across two widely separated shipping channels, using four artificial islands built in the bay as portals. Tunnels had to be used instead of drawbridges because
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#1733084468945756-632: The Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act , with funds provided by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act . The loan would help pay for the construction of both parallel tunnels. Toll collection facilities are located at both ends of the facility. Tolls are paid in each direction. As of 2024, the toll for cars (without trailers) traveling along the CBBT is $ 16 for off-peak or $ 21 for peak times (Friday through Sunday from May 15 to September 15). Should
819-729: The Washington–Baltimore Metropolitan Area . As of January 2021, over 140 million vehicles have crossed the CBBT. The CBBT was built and is operated by the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel District , a political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Virginia governed by the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel Commission in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Transportation . Its construction
882-603: The CBBT district. Unlike the Interstate Highways that travelers would avoid by taking the bridge–tunnel, the roads in the shortcut have traffic lights. On the Delmarva peninsula to the north of the bridge, travelers may visit nearby Kiptopeke State Park , Eastern Shore National Wildlife Refuge , Fisherman Island National Wildlife Refuge (closed to the public), Assateague Island National Seashore , NASA's Wallops Flight Facility , campgrounds and other vacation destinations. To
945-404: The CBBT, or via E-ZPass electronic toll collection . The bridge–tunnel began accepting Smart Tag /E-ZPass payments on November 1, 2007. All toll lanes including E-ZPass-only lanes are gated for safety concerns and to turn around inadmissible vehicles. For example: The bridge–tunnel management prohibits bicycles but offers a shuttle van for $ 15. Cyclists must call ahead. It is mandatory that
1008-424: The Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel. The CBBT district is a public agency, and it is a legal subdivision of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The bridge–tunnel is supported financially by the tolls collected from the motorists who use the facility. Eastern Shore native, businessman, and civic leader Lucius J. Kellam Jr. (1911–1995) was the original commission's first chairman. In a commentary at the time of his death in 1995,
1071-611: The Chesapeake Channel and the Port of Baltimore . To address these concerns, the engineers recommended a series of bridges and tunnels known as a bridge–tunnel , similar in design to the Hampton Roads Bridge–Tunnel , which had been completed in 1957, but on a considerably longer and larger facility. The tunnel portions, anchored by four artificial islands of approximately five acres (2.0 ha) each, would be extended under
1134-551: The Norfolk-based Virginian-Pilot newspaper recalled that Kellam had been involved in bringing the multimillion-dollar bridge–tunnel project from dream to reality. Before it was built, Kellam handled a political fight over the location, and addressed concerns of the U.S. Navy about prospective hazards to navigation to and from the Norfolk Navy Base at Sewell's Point . Kellam was also directly involved in
1197-482: The Thimble Shoals Channel to Hampton Roads and the Chesapeake Channel to the northern Chesapeake Bay. High-level bridges were initially considered for traversing these channels. The United States Navy objected to bridging the Thimble Shoals Channel because a bridge collapse (possibly by sabotage) could cut Naval Station Norfolk off from the Atlantic Ocean. Maryland officials expressed similar concerns about
1260-718: The VFC in the 1940s and early 1950s which were eventually capable of as many as 90 one-way trips each day, the crossing suffered delays due to heavy traffic and inclement weather. In 1954, the Virginia General Assembly created a political subdivision , the Chesapeake Bay Ferry District and its governing body, the Chesapeake Bay Ferry Commission. The commission was authorized to acquire the private ferry corporation through bond financing, to improve
1323-732: The Virginia Eastern Shore and Princess Anne County (now part of the City of Virginia Beach) on the mainland Western Shore in the South Hampton Roads area. This system, connecting portions of US 13 , was known as the Little Creek-Cape Charles Ferry . In 1951, the northern terminus in Delmarva was relocated to a location now within Kiptopeke State Park . Despite an expanded fleet of large and modern ships by
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#17330844689451386-476: The affected structures are inspected—most recently, a four hour closure after a barge strike in June 2011. As of April 2021, there have been 16 incidents of vehicles running off the bridge and into the water. In 2017, a truck plowed through the barriers into the sea below; the driver was rescued but died en route to the hospital. In December 2020, a dairy truck crashed through the guardrail near mile 14. Witnesses saw
1449-608: The bay, the area north of Cape Charles was located along what became known later as the Delmarva Peninsula . As it bordered the Atlantic Ocean to its east, the region became known as Virginia and neighboring Maryland 's Eastern Shore . As the entire colony grew, the bay was a formidable transportation obstacle for exchanges with the Virginia mainland on the Western Shore. One of the eight original shires of Virginia , Accomac Shire
1512-417: The bridge be checked and serviced every five years. Since servicing the bridge takes about five years, the process is a continuous cycle. The CBBT is the only automobile transportation facility in Virginia with its police department. By original charter from the state, it has authority to enforce the laws of Virginia. Emergency call boxes are spaced at half-mile (0.8 km) intervals. The CBBT promotes
1575-552: The bridge–tunnel as not only a transportation facility to tourist destinations to the north and south, but as a destination itself. For travelers headed elsewhere, the bridge–tunnel can save more than 90 miles (140 km) of driving for those headed between Ocean City, MD ; Rehoboth Beach, DE , Fenwick Island, DE , and Wilmington, DE (and areas north) and the Virginia Beach area or the Outer Banks of North Carolina , according to
1638-546: The bridge–tunnel began in October 1960 after a six-month process of assembling necessary equipment from worldwide sources. The tunnels were constructed using the technique refined by Ole Singstad with the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel , whereby a large ditch was first dug for each tunnel, into which was lowered pre-fabricated tunnel sections cable-suspended from overhead barges. Interior chambers were filled with water to lower
1701-843: The building housing the restaurant and gift shop closed and access to the pier was prohibited starting at the end of September 2017. The building will be demolished and not replaced, and the pier will reopen to the public at the end of the project in 2027. Among the key features of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel are two one-mile (1.6 km) tunnels beneath the Thimble Shoals and Chesapeake navigation channels and two pairs of side-by-side high-level bridges over two other navigation channels: North Channel Bridge (75 ft or 22.9 m clearance) and Fisherman Inlet Bridge (40 ft or 12.2 m clearance). The remaining portion comprises 12 miles (19 km) of low-level trestle , two miles (3.2 km) of causeway , and four artificial islands. The CBBT
1764-530: The coastal beach resorts developed and grew crowded with vacationers in the next decades, partly due to the improved swifter transportation with highway, bridge, and tunnel access in the region of three states. In 1956, the General Assembly authorized the Ferry Commission to conduct feasibility studies for the construction of a fixed crossing. The conclusion of the study indicated that a vehicular crossing
1827-417: The driver drifting in the water—estimated to be about 45 °F (7 °C)—but were unable to rescue him. Despite an extensive search, he remained missing until April 2021, when his body washed up over 100 mi (160 km) south at Cape Hatteras National Seashore between Salvo and Avon . A second truck following the dairy truck encountered strong wind gusts just prior to the accident that blew it into
1890-624: The existing VFC ferry service. When the CBBT opened, much of the ferry equipment and vessels used by the Little Creek-Cape Charles Ferry VFC service was sold and moved north to be redeployed to start the Cape May–Lewes Ferry across the 17-mile (27 km) mouth of the Delaware Bay between Cape May, New Jersey and Lewes, Delaware . It still serves transit needs, but the number of pleasure trip passengers increased as
1953-492: The island opened in 1964, along with the 625-foot-long (191 m) Sea Gull Pier. Bluefish, trout, croaker, flounder, and other species have been caught from the pier. Since birds use the habitat created by the bridges and islands of the CBBT, birders have travelled to the bridge–tunnel to see them at South Thimble Island and the scenic overlook at the north end. As part of the Thimble Shoal Channel Tunnel twinning,
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2016-575: The larger Eastern Shore of Virginia . The county is the center of the late Eocene meteor strike that resulted in the Chesapeake Bay impact crater . The Northampton County Courthouse Historic District is part of the Eastville Historic District at the county seat. When English colonists first arrived in the area in the early 1600s, the Virginia Eastern Shore region was governed by Debedeavon (aka "The Laughing King"), who
2079-481: The middle of the Øresund strait, and a 4 km (2.5 mi) tunnel nearest to Denmark . A bridge could not be built there for two reasons: height restrictions imposed by adjacent Copenhagen International Airport (the route's path passes the ends of some of the runways; the minimum practical height for a bridge would have interfered with airplanes using those runways) and the perennial threat of ice (a bridge's columns would have encouraged ice dams which could block
2142-415: The negotiations to finance the ambitious crossing with bonds. According to the newspaper article, "there were not-unfounded fears that (1) storm-driven seas and drifting or off-course vessels could damage, if not destroy, the span and (2) traffic might not be sufficient to service the entire debt in an orderly way. Sure enough, bridge portions of the crossing have occasionally been damaged by vessels, and there
2205-482: The northern Cape Charles , for his younger brother, Charles, Duke of York (the future King Charles I). A few weeks later they established their first permanent settlement on the southern, mainland, side of the bay, several miles upstream along the newly named James River at Jamestown on the northern shore on a close-in island for protection, the first permanent settlement in English North America . Across
2268-565: The northern end, a parallel Chesapeake Channel Tunnel will be added to finish the entire length to become a four-lane highway from shore to shore. This project is marked to begin in 2035, which would possibly be open for traffic in 2040, assuming there are no setbacks or delays. In 2021, the United States Department of Transportation loaned $ 338.6 million to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel District through
2331-764: The original " Accomac " name (Accomack County), while the southern third to the Point Cape Charles remained as Northampton. Northampton County is notable for a colonial court case involving an indentured servant . The first free negro (a term used prior to the abolition of slavery) in North America was Anthony Johnson of Northampton County. Johnson was one of the first black Americans to own land in America. In 1653, Johnson brought suit in Northampton County Court to argue that one of his servants, John Casor ,
2394-420: The other lane. Bridge%E2%80%93tunnel Bridge–tunnels are a form of fixed link or fixed crossing which replaces ferry service. Fixed links are often, but not necessarily, intercontinental links between continents or transoceanic links to offshore islands. For water crossings, a tunnel is generally more costly to construct than a bridge. However, navigational considerations at some locations may limit
2457-556: The past); partially for this reason, the parallel trestles are not located immediately adjacent to each other, reducing the chance that both would be damaged during a single incident. In 2013, the CBBT Commission approved a project to construct a second tunnel under the Thimble Shoal channel for an estimated cost of $ 756 million. The project received three bids, all of which would use a tunnel boring machine . The winning company
2520-604: The population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. The largest ancestry groups in Northampton County include: African American (36%), English American (15%), German (7%), Irish (6%) and Italian (3%) There were 5,321 households, out of which 25.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.30% were married couples living together, 17.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.40% were non-families. 29.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.60% had someone living alone who
2583-520: The principal and interest on the bonds. No local, state, or federal tax funds were used in the construction of the project. Construction contracts were awarded to a consortium of Tidewater Construction Corporation and Merritt-Chapman & Scott Corporation. The steel superstructure for the high-level bridges near the north end of the crossing were fabricated by the American Bridge Division of United States Steel Corporation . Construction of
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2646-410: The road surface. The older portion of the facility was then reopened on April 19, 1999. The 1995–1999 project increased the capacity of the above-water portion of the facility to four lanes, added wider shoulders for the new southbound portion, facilitated needed repairs, and provided protection against a total closure should a trestle be struck by a ship or otherwise damaged (which had occurred twice in
2709-460: The sections, the sections then aligned, bolted together by divers, the water pumped out, and the tunnels finally covered with earth. The construction was accomplished under the severe conditions imposed by nor'easters , hurricanes , and the unpredictable Atlantic Ocean. During the Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962 , much of the partially completed work and a major piece of custom-built equipment,
2772-647: The south are tourist destinations around Virginia Beach, including First Landing State Park , Norfolk Botanical Garden , Virginia Beach Maritime Historical Museum , Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum , and the Virginia Aquarium and Maritime Science Center . A scenic overlook is located at the north end of the bridge and was formerly located at South Thimble Island, near the south end. At South Thimble Island, passing ships may include U.S. Navy warships, nuclear submarines, and aircraft carriers, as well as large cargo vessels and sailing ships. A restaurant and gift shop on
2835-585: The strait). The Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line is a bridge–tunnel combination across Tokyo Bay in Japan . It connects the city of Kawasaki in Kanagawa Prefecture with the city of Kisarazu in Chiba Prefecture . With an overall length of 14 km (8.7 mi), it includes a 4.4 km (2.7 mi) bridge and 9.6 km (6.0 mi) tunnel underneath the bay—which is the longest underwater tunnel for cars in
2898-488: The tunnels. The affected pier, shop, and restaurant were closed in September 2017. The machine was built in 2018, after some delays, and was shipped to Virginia. After boring, the machine will also be adding the circular concrete segments which will be delivered into the tunnel via mine cars one at a time. Construction was scheduled to finish in 2023. By August 2022, the second tunnel at Thimble Shoal had been delayed to 2027. At
2961-470: The twin cities of Victoria and Kowloon in Hong Kong . In other instances, when longer distances are involved, a bridge–tunnel may be less costly and easier to ventilate than a single, lengthy tunnel. This situation may occur when more economical drawbridges are not allowed for one reason or another. For example, in the U.S. state of Virginia , such crossings include the Hampton Roads Bridge–Tunnel and
3024-417: The two main shipping channels. The CBBT was designed by the engineering firm Sverdrup & Parcel of St. Louis, Missouri . In mid-1960, the Chesapeake Bay Ferry Commission sold $ 200 million in toll revenue bonds (equivalent to $ 1.58 billion in 2023 dollars) to private investors, and the proceeds were used to finance the construction of the bridge–tunnel. Funds collected by future tolls were pledged to pay
3087-666: The two tunnels. Between North Channel and Fisherman Inlet, the facility crosses at grade over Fisherman Island , a barrier island that is part of the Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service . The columns that support the CBBT's trestles—called piles—would stretch for about 100 miles (160 km) if placed end-to-end, roughly the distance between New York City and Philadelphia. The CBBT has been closed three times for multiple days after being struck by watercraft: Other, less significant strikes have caused shorter closures while
3150-765: The use of high bridges or drawbridge spans when crossing shipping channels , necessitating the use of a tunnel. Examples of such tunnels include the Downtown Tunnel and Midtown Tunnel under the Elizabeth River between Norfolk and Portsmouth, Virginia in the United States , the George Massey Tunnel in Greater Vancouver , Canada , and the Cross-Harbour Tunnel under Victoria Harbour between
3213-528: The waters, and most residents made their living by farming and working as watermen, both on the bay (locally known as the "bay side") and in the Atlantic Ocean ("sea side"). For the first 350 years, ships and ferry systems provided the primary transportation. From the early 1930s to 1954, the Virginia Ferry Corporation (VFC), a privately owned public service company managed a scheduled vehicular (car, bus, truck) and passenger ferry service between
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#17330844689453276-485: The waterways they cross are critical to military naval operations ( Naval Station Norfolk is nearby, and Chesapeake Bay provides access to the Potomac River and thus to Washington, DC ) and could not afford to be blocked off by a bridge collapse in the event of disaster or war. Another example is the Øresund Bridge , connecting Sweden and Denmark . It has a 7.8 km (4.8 mi) bridge, an artificial island in
3339-669: The world. Drawbridges were impractical here because Tokyo Bay is too active a sea lane. The longest crossing on the Yangtze River in China is a tunnel-bridge-bridge complex, consisting of the Shanghai Yangtze River Tunnel , Shanghai Yangtze River Bridge (one of the longest cable-stayed bridges in the world ), Chongming–Qidong Yangtze River Bridge and connecting viaducts at the river's mouth in Shanghai . This fixed link carries
3402-466: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.94. In the county, the age distribution of the population shows 23.30% under the age of 18, 7.10% from 18 to 24, 23.60% from 25 to 44, 24.80% from 45 to 64, and 21.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 87.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.10 males. The median income for
3465-400: Was German-based Herrenknecht , whose machine was 325 ft (99 m) long. The machine, nicknamed Chessie in a naming contest, was capable of moving forward through soil at 2.4 in (61 mm) per minute, or about 50 ft (15 m) per day. At that rate, it was estimated that the tunnel would be dug within about one year. Construction work began in 2017 to prepare the location of
3528-425: Was a long period when holders of the riskiest bonds received no interest on their investment." An icon of eastern Virginia politics, Kellam remained chairman and champion of the CBBT throughout the hard times, and the bondholders were eventually paid as toll revenues caught up with expenses. He continued to serve until he was over 80 years old, finally retiring in 1993. He had held the post for 39 years. The facility
3591-459: Was established there in 1634, eventually becoming the two counties of modern times, Accomack County in the north and Northampton County to the south. In comparison to mainland regions, commerce and growth was limited by the need to cross the Bay. Consequently, little industrial base grew there, with the oceanfront peninsula staying predominantly rural with small towns and villages oriented towards life on
3654-586: Was feasible. Consideration was given to service between the Eastern Shore and both the peninsula and South Hampton Roads. Eventually, the shortest route, extending between the Eastern Shore and a point in Princess Anne County at Chesapeake Beach (east of Little Creek, west of Lynnhaven Inlet), was selected. An option to also provide a fixed crossing link to Hampton and the peninsula was not pursued. The selected route crosses two Atlantic shipping channels:
3717-525: Was financed by toll revenue bonds , while operating and maintenance expenses are recovered through tolls . In 2002, a Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) study commissioned by the Virginia General Assembly concluded that "given the inability of the state to fund future capital requirements of the CBBT, the District and Commission should be retained to operate and maintain the Bridge–Tunnel as
3780-591: Was indentured to him for life. Casor had left him and was working for a neighbor. This was the first instance of a judicial determination in the Thirteen Colonies holding that a person who had committed no crime could be held in servitude for life. This court ruling decision also gives insight to how owners of indentured servants could easily choose to ignore the expiration of indentured contracts and force their servants into lifetime slavery. Although Casor, an African, had well-known white planters taking his part, he
3843-419: Was reduced to lifetime slavery. Some planters sought more profitable methods of labor by taking advantage of Negro indentured servants, who had little recourse in the legal and social system to protect their rights. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 795 square miles (2,060 km ), of which 212 square miles (550 km ) is land and 584 square miles (1,510 km ) (73.4%)
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#17330844689453906-497: Was renamed in Kellam's honor in 1987, over 20 years after it opened. At a cost of $ 197 million, new parallel two-lane trestles were built both to alleviate traffic and for safety reasons. Immediately after completion of the parallel trestles, traffic was diverted to them and the original trestles and roadway underwent a $ 20 million retrofit, repairing the wear and tear of 35 years of service and upgrading certain features, such as repaving
3969-500: Was the paramount chief of the Accomac people , which numbered around 2,000 at the time. The former name of the county was Accomac Shire , one of the original eight shires of Virginia created in 1634 after the founding of the first settlement at Jamestown in 1607. In 1642, the name was changed to Northampton County by the colonists. In 1663, Northampton County was split into two counties that still exist today. The northern two-thirds took
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