Pardon me for modifying the old CBBT slogan "Go to sea in your car"... J

Above, northbound span of Fisherman Inlet Bridge, heading south at the beginning of the trip. Fisherman Island is straight ahead, and on the horizon you can see the Atlantic Ocean.

Above, looking north from the North Channel Bridge. The New North Channel Bridge is in front, Fisherman Island is behind that, and the Fisherman Inlet Bridges are in the distance, and the Eastern Shore is on the horizon.

Above, looking north from the North Channel Bridge (highest point on the CBBT at 85 feet above water). Fisherman Island is straight ahead, and on the horizon is the Atlantic Ocean on the right and the Eastern Shore is on the left. You can see the Cape Charles Lighthouse at the left edge of the photo.

Above, looking south from the North Channel Bridge. The new trestle is in the distance, and Chesapeake Bay is straight ahead, and Hampton is over the horizon 16 miles away.

Above, original span, just north of the northernmost manmade island, photo taken from new emergency bay. The North Channel Bridges are in the distance on the right.

Above, original span, just north of the northernmost manmade island. Notice the new asphalt surface that has been placed on the 34-year-old trestle. The North Channel Bridges are in the distance on the right.

"A portion of the north end of the old trestle will be open to bicyclists and a portion of the south end will be open to walkers from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. [...] Bicyclists will be able to travel an 81/2-mile section of the bridge beginning at the northern, Eastern Shore end of the span. Participants will not be charged the usual $10 tolls for crossing the bridge-tunnel in either direction. [...] Hikers will be allowed to walk on a 31/2-mile section of the bridge-tunnel starting at the southern, Virginia Beach end".

We went to the northern section, which had the bike trip. The trip was loooong, no it was loooooooooong, but very enjoyable, and rather unique! There were thousands of bicyclists (literally!) on the span when we got there at 11:30 AM. Some turned around at the North Channel Bridge (highest point on the CBBT at 85 feet above water) about 31/2 miles from the north staging area, but most made the entire 81/2-mile trip to the northernmost manmade island. Some took the bus back, but most rode their bikes back. The weather was mostly sunny, about 55 degrees, and windy.

I don't see any reason why this won't become an annual event, just like the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Walk that is held on that facility, which is near Annapolis, Maryland. Indeed, there has been talk in the Norfolk/Hampton Roads newspapers about making this an annual event. I'll certainly go back! The Maryland event only allows pedestrians, since the 2-lane eastbound 4.3-mile-long bridge is closed and used for this one day, and mixing bicycles and pedestrians would be too difficult. My website article Chesapeake Bay Bridge Walk has a photo tour (5 photos) of my attendance of that event in 1987. The advantage of the CBBT is that two long trestles can be used just like in the 1998 event; bicyclists only on the 81/2-mile-long section of the original span from the Eastern Shore to the northernmost manmade island, and pedestrians only on the 31/2-mile-long section of the original span from Virginia Beach to the southernmost manmade island.

 Back to top

By Scott M. Kozel, Roads to the Future