Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel

One of the seven engineering wonders of the modern world, the 17.6 mile long Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel connecting the southern tip of Virginia’s Eastern Shore to Virginia Beach offers spectacular views usually reserved for boaters.  Despite having now crossed it countless times I’m still always excited to do so.  You can’t help to feel connected to the Bay when you’re nearly eight miles from either shoreline.  I particularly enjoy crossing in bad weather, when I can experience the Bay’s wrath from the climate-controlled comfort of my SUV!

The Bridge-Tunnel’s length is impressive, and the numbers don’t do it justice.  You really need to see it for yourself.  Toll booth to toll booth length is 20 miles, or to put it another way for those of us who live in Annapolis, the length of Route 50 between the Severn River Bridge and the DC beltway.  My roommate’s father, seeing the lights of the Virginia Beach to Thimble Shoal Channel spans one night and not realizing it was the bridge, commented “Wow, that’s one heck of a pier.”

Finally, here’s a note of caution for first time CBBT drivers.  The Bridge-Tunnel cops have nothing, absolutely nothing better to do than catch speeders.  They sit in the numerous pull-off spots on either span with radar guns a blazing.  So set the cruise control at 60 and enjoy the drive.