Monitor Bowers Hill, I-64, and Monitor-Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel Traffic Live
Access 380+ live traffic cameras across Chesapeake, Virginia. Our interactive map provides real-time access to live street feeds and intersection cameras throughout the Great Bridge and Deep Creek areas. Track conditions at the critical Bowers Hill Interchange, Monitor-Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel, and major routes serving Naval Station Norfolk. All VDOT feeds update 24/7.
View Live Cameras →Why Chesapeake Traffic Cameras Matter
Chesapeake is Virginia's second-largest city by area and a critical hub in the Hampton Roads metro region. With over 250,000 residents and proximity to the world's largest naval base, traffic management is essential. According to 2024 Census estimates, Chesapeake commuters have an average travel time to work of 25.8 minutes. Users can also monitor live street feeds along Battlefield Boulevard and Greenbrier Parkway to check for road-level gridlock near major retail hubs or drawbridge openings.
Critical factors affecting Chesapeake traffic:
- Bowers Hill Interchange — I-64, I-264, and I-664 converge here, handling 200,000+ vehicles daily
- Naval Station Norfolk — shift changes at 6 AM, 2 PM, and 10 PM flood nearby routes
- Monitor-Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel — 4.6-mile crossing connects Chesapeake to Newport News
- Port of Virginia operations — heavy industrial and truck traffic throughout the day
- Great Bridge Lock — Intracoastal Waterway drawbridge affects Battlefield Blvd traffic
- Coastal flooding — hurricanes and nor'easters impact low-lying areas
Live cameras provide real-time visibility into these complex traffic patterns.
Chesapeake Camera Coverage
Bowers Hill Interchange: 140+ Cameras
The most complex junction in Hampton Roads. I-64, I-264, and I-664 meet in a massive interchange handling commuters from Portsmouth, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Suffolk.
I-64 Corridor: 110+ Cameras
Main east-west route across Hampton Roads. Connects Richmond to Virginia Beach via Chesapeake, crossing the Monitor-Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel. As a primary regional link, segments of I-64 through Chesapeake handle over 165,000 vehicles daily according to traffic data from the Virginia DOT.
I-464 & US-17: 80+ Cameras
Critical north-south connector linking Downtown Tunnel to I-64. Serves commuters heading to/from Portsmouth and Norfolk.
Monitor-Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel: 50+ Cameras
4.6-mile crossing of Hampton Roads harbor. Approaches and tunnel entrances monitored for incidents and weather conditions.
Check Conditions Before You Leave
See real-time footage from Bowers Hill, Monitor-Merrimac, and all major Chesapeake routes. Avoid backups from naval base shifts, bridge-tunnel incidents, or flooding.
View Chesapeake Cameras →Coverage: 380+ Chesapeake Traffic Cameras
Bowers Hill Interchange (I-64/I-264/I-664)
140+ cameras monitor Virginia's most complex interchange:
- I-64 East/West — approaches from Richmond and Virginia Beach
- I-264 East/West — Downtown Tunnel connector to Norfolk/Virginia Beach
- I-664 North/South — Hampton/Newport News to Suffolk/North Carolina
- Ramp junctions — all major merges and splits covered
- Peak backups — AM rush (6-9 AM), PM rush (3:30-6:30 PM), naval shift changes
Bowers Hill handles over 200,000 vehicles daily. Even minor incidents trigger multi-mile backups across all three interstates.
I-64 Corridor
110+ cameras cover I-64 across Chesapeake:
- Monitor-Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel — eastbound/westbound approaches, tunnel entrances, exit ramps
- Greenbrier Parkway — major retail/commercial interchange
- Battlefield Blvd (US-168) — Great Bridge area, North Carolina border
- Bowers Hill — western terminus in Chesapeake before Portsmouth
I-64 is the primary Hampton Roads connector. Backups from bridge-tunnel incidents or accidents cascade for miles.
I-464 & US-17 (Dominion Blvd)
80+ cameras monitor north-south routes:
- I-464 — short connector from Downtown Tunnel to I-64 at Bowers Hill
- US-17 (Dominion Blvd) — parallel route serving Deep Creek and Great Bridge
- Western Branch Blvd — local arterial connecting neighborhoods
- George Washington Hwy — alternate route to Suffolk
These routes absorb overflow when Bowers Hill or tunnels are congested.
Naval Station Norfolk Shift Changes
World's largest naval base is 10 miles from Chesapeake. Shift changes at 6 AM, 2 PM, and 10 PM flood I-64, I-464, and US-17 with thousands of military personnel and contractors. Plan around these times or check cameras first.
Monitor Naval Traffic Impact
See live conditions during shift changes. Cameras at Bowers Hill, I-464, and US-17 show real-time backup severity.
View Live Feeds →Chesapeake Traffic Patterns
Morning Rush (6:00-9:00 AM)
- I-64 Westbound — Virginia Beach/Norfolk commuters heading to Newport News, Richmond
- I-464 Northbound — Portsmouth residents heading to Naval Station Norfolk
- Bowers Hill Interchange — merges from all directions create bottlenecks
- Naval shift change (6 AM) — early surge on I-64, US-17, I-464
Midday Traffic (10:00 AM-2:00 PM)
- Greenbrier area — shopping/dining traffic on I-64, Greenbrier Pkwy
- Port of Virginia trucks — commercial traffic on US-13, I-464
- Great Bridge Lock openings — Battlefield Blvd delays when drawbridge operates
Afternoon Rush (3:30-6:30 PM)
- I-64 Eastbound — reverse commute, Richmond/Newport News to Virginia Beach
- I-464 Southbound — Naval Station workers returning to Chesapeake/Portsmouth
- Bowers Hill Interchange — heaviest traffic of the day, all ramps congested
- Naval shift change (2 PM) — overlaps with early departures
Evening (6:30 PM-10:00 PM)
- Monitor-Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel — recreational traffic to/from Peninsula
- Naval shift change (10 PM) — late surge on I-64, I-464
- Weekend nights — Virginia Beach/Norfolk entertainment traffic returns via I-64
According to the Virginia Department of Transportation, the I-64 and I-464 corridors through Chesapeake are critical components of the Hampton Roads transportation network, handling over 160,000 vehicles daily at their busiest interchanges.
Hurricane and Flooding Alerts
Chesapeake is a low-lying coastal city vulnerable to hurricanes, nor'easters, and tidal flooding. Chesapeake recorded 19 traffic fatalities in 2024; monitoring live feeds for incidents and weather is a critical safety habit for the city's residents. During storms:
- Monitor cameras at underpasses, low-lying areas (Great Bridge, Deep Creek)
- Avoid flooded roads — standing water damages vehicles, hides hazards
- Follow VDOT alerts — road closures, evacuation routes
- Check Monitor-Merrimac — bridge-tunnel closes in high winds
Hurricane season: June 1-November 30. Nor'easters impact October-April.
Great Bridge Lock & Intracoastal Waterway
The Great Bridge Lock on the Intracoastal Waterway crosses Battlefield Blvd (US-168) in southern Chesapeake. When the drawbridge opens for marine traffic, road traffic stops.
Lock operations:
- Typical opening time — 15-30 minutes per vessel
- Peak boating season — May-October (more frequent openings)
- Affected traffic — US-168 connects Chesapeake to North Carolina, heavy truck/commuter use
Cameras near Great Bridge:
- Battlefield Blvd at Great Bridge Lock — see bridge status, backup length
- US-168 approaches — monitor alternate routes (Centerville Tpk, Battlefield Blvd south)
Check cameras before crossing to avoid sitting through a drawbridge opening.
VDOT 511 Virginia
All Chesapeake cameras are maintained by Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). For official alerts, road closures, and construction:
- Call 511 (Virginia travel info line)
- Visit 511Virginia.org (VDOT traffic portal)
- Download 511VA app (iOS/Android)
TrafficVision aggregates VDOT feeds for easier browsing and comparison across Hampton Roads.
Monitor-Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel
The Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel (MMMBT) is a 4.6-mile crossing of Hampton Roads harbor, connecting Chesapeake to Newport News. It's the only direct I-64 route between the Peninsula and Southside.
Key details:
- Length — 4.6 miles (bridge spans + tunnel)
- Traffic volume — 80,000+ vehicles/day
- Toll — Free (unlike Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel)
- Incidents — accidents in tunnel cause hour-long backups with no alternate route
Camera coverage:
- Chesapeake approach (eastbound) — I-64 EB from Bowers Hill
- Newport News approach (westbound) — I-64 WB from Peninsula
- Tunnel entrances — both portals monitored for incidents
- Exit ramps — off-ramps to US-17, US-258
Closure reasons:
- High winds — bridge closes when sustained winds exceed 40 mph
- Accidents — tunnel incidents require emergency response, lane closures
- Construction — periodic maintenance work (nights/weekends)
Check cameras before crossing. If MMMBT is backed up, no practical alternate exists — nearest crossing is 15+ miles away.
Check Bridge-Tunnel Conditions
See live footage from Monitor-Merrimac approaches, tunnel entrances, and exits. Avoid hour-long backups from accidents or closures.
View MMMBT Cameras →Related Hampton Roads Coverage
Chesapeake traffic is interconnected with the entire Hampton Roads metro region. Check cameras in neighboring cities:
- Norfolk Traffic Cameras — Downtown Tunnel, I-64, Naval Station Norfolk
- Virginia Beach Traffic Cameras — I-264, Virginia Beach Blvd, Oceanfront
- Portsmouth Traffic Cameras — Midtown Tunnel, I-464, US-17
- Hampton Traffic Cameras — I-64, Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel
- Newport News Traffic Cameras — I-64, Monitor-Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel
All Hampton Roads cities share VDOT camera feeds for seamless regional monitoring.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many traffic cameras are in Chesapeake?
Chesapeake has 380+ VDOT traffic cameras covering I-64, I-464, I-664, US-13, US-17, US-58, and local roads. Cameras monitor Bowers Hill Interchange, Monitor-Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel, and routes serving Naval Station Norfolk.
Are Chesapeake traffic cameras free?
Yes. All VDOT traffic cameras are publicly accessible 24/7 at no cost. TrafficVision aggregates feeds from 600+ sources, including VDOT, for easier browsing.
How often do Chesapeake cameras update?
VDOT cameras refresh every 5-15 seconds. Image quality varies by camera age and location. Feeds are real-time, not delayed or archived.
What causes the worst Chesapeake traffic?
Bowers Hill Interchange congestion (I-64/I-264/I-664 merges), Naval Station Norfolk shift changes (6 AM, 2 PM, 10 PM), Monitor-Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel incidents, and coastal flooding during hurricanes/nor'easters.
Does the Great Bridge Lock affect traffic?
Yes. The drawbridge on Battlefield Blvd (US-168) opens for Intracoastal Waterway vessel traffic, stopping road traffic for 15-30 minutes. Openings are more frequent May-October during boating season. Check cameras near Great Bridge before crossing.
Where can I find Chesapeake street feeds?
You can find live Chesapeake street feeds and intersection cameras by using our interactive map, which aggregates VDOT data for major surface routes like Battlefield Boulevard and US-17.
Start Monitoring Chesapeake Traffic Now
See live conditions at Bowers Hill, Monitor-Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel, and city street feeds instantly. Free VDOT feeds, no signup required. Access 380+ cameras from 600+ sources across Hampton Roads and beyond.
View All Chesapeake Cameras →