CBBT Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel Cameras: Live US-13 Crossing
Monitor the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (CBBT) — the 17.6-mile US-13 engineering marvel crossing the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay between Virginia's Eastern Shore and Virginia Beach. Four artificial islands connect two underwater tunnels and 12 miles of low-level trestle bridge. Track wind closures, toll plaza approach, and the ~9,600 daily vehicles on TrafficVision.Live.
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Virginia Beach | Opened: April 15, 1964 (original 2-lane); parallel northbound span opened April 19, 1999 | Artificial Islands: 4 (two tunnel portal pairs) | Tunnels: 2 (Thimble Shoal + Chesapeake Channel) | Trestle Bridge: 12+ miles of low-level bridge | Daily Volume: ~9,600 vehicles per [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chesapeake_Bay_Bridge%E2%80%93Tunnel) | Annual Volume: 3.5+ million vehicles | Time Saved vs. Alternate: ~95 miles / 1.5 hours — saves lap around the Chesapeake Bay | Operator: CBBT Commission (political subdivision of Virginia) | Payment: E-ZPass / cash accepted — current rates at [cbbt.com/tolls](https://www.cbbt.com/tolls/) | Camera Sources: VDOT, 511Virginia, CBBTThe Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (CBBT) is a 17.6-mile engineering wonder crossing the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay — connecting Virginia's isolated Eastern Shore (Northampton County) to the Hampton Roads / Virginia Beach metro area via US Route 13. Per Wikipedia's CBBT entry, the crossing saves motorists roughly 95 miles and 1½ hours compared to driving around the bay via Delaware and Maryland. Opened April 15, 1964, the original 2-lane crossing was supplemented by a parallel northbound span opened April 19, 1999 — resulting in the current 4-lane configuration over most of the crossing, narrowing to 2 lanes through the two existing tunnels. The CBBT includes 4 artificial islands, 2 underwater tunnels (Thimble Shoal and Chesapeake Channel), and over 12 miles of low-level trestle bridge. The facility carries over 3.5 million vehicles annually (~9,600 per day average). The CBBT is self-sustaining — operated by the CBBT Commission as a political subdivision of Virginia, funded entirely by toll revenue with no state or federal tax support.
CBBT Coverage
North Approach (Eastern Shore / Cape Charles)
Northampton County entry
CBBT northern terminus near Cape Charles on Virginia's Eastern Shore. US-13 continues north toward Delmarva.
South Approach (Virginia Beach)
Hampton Roads metro entry
CBBT southern terminus at Virginia Beach. Connects to US-13 / I-64 via US-60.
Thimble Shoal Tunnel
1-mile underwater tunnel (south)
The southern tunnel — keeps navigation channel clear for naval and commercial shipping at Norfolk/Newport News.
Chesapeake Channel Tunnel
1-mile underwater tunnel (north)
The northern tunnel — second navigation channel.
Four Artificial Islands
Tunnel portals + observation stop
Islands provide tunnel portals. Island No. 1 (Thimble Shoal south) historically had a restaurant/rest stop.
12-Mile Trestle Bridge
Low-level spans
The vast majority of the crossing is at-grade trestle bridge — the longest segment of CBBT.
When to Check CBBT Cameras
Peak CBBT Traffic Windows
- Summer Eastern Shore tourism (Jun-Aug) — Heavy northbound Friday PM / southbound Sunday PM
- Labor Day / Memorial Day — Holiday peaks
- Thanksgiving / Christmas — Multi-state migration traffic
- High-wind closures — Full closures during sustained winds over 40 mph / gusts over 55 mph
- Storm events — Nor'easters, hurricanes, tropical storms trigger closures
- Fog events — Reduced speed zones, occasional closures
- Construction / maintenance — Periodic single-tunnel closures (alternating directions)
- NASA Wallops launches — Periodic Eastern Shore-related traffic near Chincoteague
View Live CBBT Cameras
Check CBBT conditions, tunnel portal traffic, and wind-closure status before committing to the crossing.
VIEW CBBT CAMERAS →CBBT Wind Closure Protocol
Per CBBT operations, the 17.6-mile facility closes during high-wind events. Sustained winds over 40 mph or gusts over 55 mph typically trigger restrictions. High-profile vehicle restrictions (RVs, motorhomes, tractor-trailers, and tall trucks) kick in at lower wind thresholds. Always check CBBT's current-status page and TrafficVision live cameras before committing to the crossing during storm conditions — the alternate route around the bay adds 95 miles and 1.5 hours.
Pro Tip: CBBT vs. Other Virginia Chesapeake Crossings
Don't confuse the CBBT with other Chesapeake crossings:
- CBBT (this page) — 17.6 miles, US-13, mouth of Chesapeake Bay, VA Eastern Shore Virginia Beach
- Chesapeake Bay Bridge MD — 4.3 miles, US-50/301, Maryland's Eastern Shore Annapolis
- Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (HRBT) — 3.5 miles, I-64, Hampton Norfolk (within Hampton Roads metro)
- Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel (MMMBT) — I-664, Hampton/Newport News Chesapeake (within Hampton Roads)
For Eastern Shore Virginia Beach, CBBT is the only direct crossing. For Delmarva peninsula access from the north, use MD's Chesapeake Bay Bridge.
For Virginia travelers, see our Virginia traffic cameras guide, Virginia Beach traffic cameras guide, Norfolk traffic cameras guide, Newport News traffic cameras guide, Hampton / HRBT guide, Chesapeake VA traffic cameras guide, Chesapeake Bay Bridge MD guide, I-64 corridor guide, and I-95 corridor guide.
How long is the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel?
17.6 miles per Wikipedia — though marketed as a "23-mile facility" when counting approaches. It includes 2 underwater tunnels (Thimble Shoal and Chesapeake Channel), 4 artificial islands, and over 12 miles of low-level trestle bridge.
When did the CBBT open?
The original 2-lane crossing opened April 15, 1964. A parallel northbound span opened April 19, 1999, creating the current 4-lane configuration over most of the route (narrowing to 2 lanes through the two existing tunnels).
How much is the CBBT toll?
Current toll rates are published at cbbt.com/tolls. The CBBT is self-sustaining — it receives no federal, state, or local tax funding. All operations, maintenance, and capital projects are supported by toll revenue.
Does the CBBT close?
Yes, during high-wind events. Sustained winds over 40 mph or gusts over 55 mph typically trigger full closures. High-profile vehicle restrictions (RVs, trucks) kick in at lower thresholds. Storm events can close the facility for hours.
How do I avoid the CBBT during a closure?
The alternate route around the Chesapeake Bay requires driving through Maryland and Delaware — approximately 95 miles and 1.5 hours longer. There is no nearby alternate crossing for the Eastern Shore — CBBT is the only direct option.
Are CBBT cameras free to view?
Yes. Every camera on TrafficVision.Live is free with no account required. We aggregate publicly operated VDOT, 511Virginia, and CBBT feeds.
Ready to Monitor the CBBT?
Track the 17.6-mile Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel with live VDOT cameras — free, instant, no sign-up.
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