Until a few days ago, I thought the Chesapeake Bay Bridge between Annapolis and Maryland’s Eastern Shore, at 4.35 miles, was long.
That was before Ra Martinez and I traveled north from Norfolk to Virginia’s Eastern Shore, crossing the broad mouth of the mighty Chesapeake Bay. This one is called the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and is a astounding 17.6 miles long. It starts out with a length of bridge, then a tunnel, then more bridge, then a second tunnel, and finally the last section of bridge that leads to solid land. At one point, I looked to my right and realized that this was where French Admiral DeGrasse engaged British Admiral Howe in the naval battle that left General Cornwallis trapped in Yorktown and helped win the Revolutionary War.
Shelly and I stopped to stretch our legs at the Eastern Shore’s Visitor Center. I happened to mention to the lady behind the desk that I didn’t understand why they had the tunnel-bridge-tunnel system. Why not all bridge? She told me that the tunnel sections are so the tall Navy ships can get in and out of the Bay. They need more height than the bridge allows.
You can pay the toll by cash or credit card at the toll booths on either end of the bridge. The toll to cross the bridge is $21.00 during peak season (Fridays through Sundays from May 15th to September 15th) or $16.00 during off-peak times. Drivers with an EZ Pass get a discount. Return trips within 24 hours are $1.00 during peak times and $6.00 during off-peak times (no, that’s not a typo, I guess Virginia just wants its $22.00 round-trip year-round). Those return trip prices require an EZ pass. If the idea of driving 17.6 miles on a high bridge or in a tunnel scares you, they offer a driver service for free. The Commonwealth of Virginia recommends arranging the driver service in advance by calling (757) 331-2960. If you give them less than 24 hours notice, you may have a wait.