Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, Virginia Beach, Virginia
Posted by: 
94RedRover
N 36° 57.976 W 076° 06.758
18S E 400956 N 4091708
Connecting Virginia Beach and the Eastern Shore of Virginia (Delmarva Peninsula) this convenience cuts 95 miles off a trip from Virginia's Mainland to Delaware.
Waymark Code: WM3ERH
Location: Virginia, United States
Date Posted: 03/24/2008
Views: 141
Opening on April 15, 1964, the Bridge-Tunnel measures 17.6 miles (28.4 km) from shore to shore, carrying US 13 from Virginia Beach to the Eastern Shore. The structure carries traffic both above and below the waters of the Chesapeake Bay. Construction consists of two 1-mile long tunnels, that carry traffic below the Thimble Shoals and Chesapeake navigational channels. Two bridges connect the tunnels and increase the expanse of the structure. Four man-made islands of roughly 5 1/4 acres each were created to foot the tunnels and bridges.
The northbound side was begun on September 7, 1960 and opened to public on April 15, 1964 at a cost of $200,000,000, financed by the sale of revenue bonds.
The southbound side was built to accomodate the increasing vehicular traffice and construction began June 16, 1995, opening to traffic on April 19, 1999 at a cost of $250,000,000 also financed by the sale of revenue bonds. (No tax dollars were used)
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel is considered the world's largest bridge-tunnel complex and was selected "One of the Seven Engineering Wonders of the Modern World". In addition, in 1965, it was distinguished as "The Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement" by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
My waypoint marks the entrance to the first tunnel (Thimble Shoal Channel Tunnel) heading northbound. Reference was taken from the "Sightseers Guide to Engineering"
Location:
US 13, from Virginia Beach to Eastern Shore of Virginia (Delmarva Peninsula)
Type of structure/site: Bridge-Tunnel
Date of Construction: 1960-1964, 1995-1999
Engineer/Architect/Builder etc.: Northbound: Sverdrup & Parcel, Consulting Engineers
Engineering Organization Listing: National Society of Professional Engineers
Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
Secondary Web Site: [Web Link]
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