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Norfolk Journals

A 17 Mile Bridge Tunnel

A July 2008 trip to Norfolk by weeblewobble46

Chesapeake Bridge Tunnel - VA bound Photo - Virginia, United States

Quote: Have you ever fished from a 17 mile long bridge tunnel?

3 Photos

A 17 Mile Bridge Tunnel

Overview

Quote:

If you need to travel along the DelMarVa peninsula, you will probably get to experience the Chesapeake Bridge Tunnel. It is what connects the peninsula to the mainland around Norfolk, VA. This is a modern man-made wonder. The bridge portions sit high above the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay and on a clear day you can see for miles. The smaller boats ply the waters of the bay, slipping through the waves like a needle through silk. The tunnel portions (there are two) extend beneath the waves to allow the larger cargo ships passage into the Bay and eventually up to the port of Baltimore, MD.

Since this span of road is 17 miles long, the builders have built a rest area on the "island" closest to Virginia (about 3 or 4 miles in to the Bay). This area has the requisite "rest rooms" along with a snack bar and a fishing pier. The day that we were there, several fishermen and women had landed some good sized pan fish. I don't know what they were, but I know that they would easily make a good meal since they were about 1 foot long.

There are other ways to reach the mainland from the peninsula (Cape May Ferry to the north and Chesapeake Bay Bridge to the west), but the Bridge Tunnel to the south is the most fun for me.

Quick Tips:

If you have little ones, be sure to stop at the rest area. It gives the kids a close up view of the tunnel entrance (be sure to keep a close eye on them since there is no fencing to prevent them from wandering onto the roadway) and the fishing pier is a great distraction for them while you take photos or grab a snack for them.

The washrooms are clean and well stocked. The snack bar has several choices of food and drink (we got a coupon that allowed us one free small drink when we entered the bridge) and there is a little store area where you can get your souvenir shot glasses or shell covered trinket.

Best Way To Get Around:

Since you are on a bridge, I expect that you will be driving. You can walk all over the little parking area on the one island that has the snack shop. that way you can see the real expanse of the bridge portions and the man-made islands. Read Less