VIRGINIA - The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, spanning the Chesapeake Bay and connecting Delmarva to mainland Virginia, turns 60 today.
The Bridge-Tunnel first opened to traffic on April 15th 1964, just 42 months after construction first began according to the Bridge-Tunnel’s website (CBBT). Before the construction of the Bridge-Tunnel, travelers used an 85-minute ferry service to traverse between Virginia’s Eastern Shore and Virginia Beach and Norfolk. CBBT says the trip across the 23-mile Bridge-Tunnel now takes an average 25 minutes.
Officially called the Lucius J. Kellam, Jr. Bridge-Tunnel, the structure has seen more than 157 million vehicles travel across its expanse since opening 60 years ago. After opening, it was quickly dubbed one of the “seven engineering wonders of the modern world” according to CBBT.
“As the engineering marvel celebrates the 60th anniversary of its opening in 2024, it remains a testament to its structural integrity and staying power,” the CBBT website reads. “Aside from being a scenic shortcut, its construction and configuration attract visitors who want to experience this epic drive over and under the sea.”
CBBT says the original $200 million construction of the Bridge-Tunnel used no local, state, or federal tax money as the CBBT District sold revenue bonds to private investors to cover the expense 60 years ago.
