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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Virginia’s “underwater tunnel” is the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (CBBT), a Route 13 crossing between Virginia Beach and Cape Charles. It is an extraordinary piece of transportation engineering, but the drive can feel abrupt: most of the route is exposed over the bay, then the roadway drops into enclosed tunnels beneath busy shipping channels. That impression is subjective, not a measured response shared by every driver.
What makes the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel remarkable?
The CBBT is not one long tunnel. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel Commission describes a 17.6-mile shore-to-shore crossing and a 23-mile facility when approach roads are included. Its route combines more than 12 miles of low-level trestle, two one-mile tunnels, two bridges, almost two miles of causeway, four man-made islands and approach roads. The tunnels take the roadway beneath major shipping channels rather than placing a high bridge across them. The Commission’s history provides the facility’s dimensions and construction history.
The crossing opened on April 15, 1964, replacing vehicle ferry service. Construction had begun in September 1960, and the Commission says the project was completed in 42 months. It was financed with $200 million in revenue bonds to be repaid from tolls; the Commission says no local, state or federal tax money funded the original construction. The Commission’s history also says the CBBT was selected as one of the “Seven Engineering Wonders of the Modern World” after opening, and that the American Society of Civil Engineers named it “The Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement” in 1965.
Does the road really go underwater?
Only part of it. The road alternates between elevated trestles and bridges, causeway and the two tunnels under shipping channels. So the common question, “Does the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel go under water?” has a qualified answer: the tunnels pass beneath the waterway, but the whole crossing is not underwater. The Commission’s facility history describes the route’s components.
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Why can the drive feel jarring?
A travel feature characterizes the crossing as “spectacular – and slightly jarring.” That is a description of one article’s impression, not a universal reaction or a result established by driver research. One reasonable explanation is the contrast between the open, low-level crossing over the bay and the enclosed tunnel sections. The shift in surroundings is real; how a particular driver experiences it varies.
How the tunnel design accommodates shipping
The existing tunnels let ships continue using the channels without a high bridge spanning them at those points. The Commission’s Parallel Thimble Shoal Tunnel project is adding a separate two-lane bored tunnel from island 1 to island 2 beneath Thimble Shoal Channel. The Commission says that, when complete, the new tunnel will carry southbound traffic and the existing tunnel will carry northbound traffic. The U.S. Department of Transportation describes the new bore as 5,700 feet long and says the project will provide redundancy if one Thimble Shoal tunnel is damaged or impassable. Neither source’s material cited here establishes a current opening date. The Commission’s project page describes its mission as providing travelers “a safe, cost effective, and unique driving experience across the scenic Chesapeake Bay.”
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This work is separate from the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (HRBT) expansion. VDOT reported that the HRBT boring machine Mary made its final breakthrough on September 24, 2025; that milestone concerns the I-64 crossing, not the CBBT project. VDOT’s HRBT project page covers that separate work.
How the CBBT differs from Hampton Roads tunnels
Virginia has several bridge-tunnels, but they serve different routes. The CBBT connects Virginia Beach and Cape Charles on Route 13. The HRBT is on I-64 and links Hampton/Newport News with Norfolk/Virginia Beach. The Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel (MMMBT) is on I-664 and links Newport News/Hampton with Suffolk/Chesapeake. VDOT describes the MMMBT as a practical, sometimes less-congested alternative to the HRBT for relevant Hampton Roads trips; neither is simply another name for the CBBT or an automatic substitute for an Eastern Shore trip.
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| Crossing | Highway | Connects | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel | Route 13 | Virginia Beach and Cape Charles | Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel Commission |
| Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel | I-64 | Hampton/Newport News and Norfolk/Virginia Beach | Virginia Department of Transportation |
| Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel | I-664 | Newport News/Hampton and Suffolk/Chesapeake | Virginia Department of Transportation |
VDOT reports that nearly three million vehicles use the HRBT monthly and that it carries over 100,000 vehicles a day during tourist season. Those figures describe the HRBT, not CBBT traffic. VDOT’s bridge-and-tunnel information distinguishes these Hampton Roads crossings.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Preparing for a CBBT drive
If you are anxious about the crossing
The Commission offers a scheduled drive-across service for people fearful of bridges or tunnels. Its FAQ says to give 24 hours’ advance notice; travelers pay the normal one-way toll, with no additional service charge. Call 757-331-2960 to arrange it and confirm current availability. The Commission’s FAQ lists the service.
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Tolls and payment
The Commission says tolls are paid at the time of travel by cash, credit or debit card, or E-ZPass; Pay-by-Plate and online payment are not offered. Applicable toll discounts require E-ZPass, but a transponder is not required to cross. The FAQ also says toll plazas have vending machines selling prepaid transponders; check with the Commission for current purchase details.
Vehicle and weather checks
- Height: The Commission’s FAQ gives a maximum vehicle height of 13 feet 6 inches.
- RV propane: Shut off propane at the outside valve before crossing. The vehicle may be inspected at the toll plaza.
- Weather: Restrictions can affect travel. Check the Commission’s official updates or call before setting out; VDOT’s 511 Virginia provides broader road-condition information and cameras.
For changing travel details, use the CBBT Commission’s FAQ and official updates; for Virginia road conditions, use 511 Virginia. The cited official information does not establish a reliably current exact toll price or CBBT daily traffic figure.
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