Hampton Roads Tunnels and Bridges

Truck height restrictions  (PDF, 537 KB)

Hampton Roads’ natural assets have made it one of the busiest ports on the East Coast.

The region is home to the world’s largest naval base and is a summertime destination for hundreds of thousands of visitors.

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) maintains eight major bridges and tunnels in Hampton Roads.

Bridge and tunnel emergency closure information

• Tunnels
• Major bridges
• Traffic updates
• Safety Service Patrols
• Managing traffic
• If you're in an accident 
• Hazardous materials
• Hauling permits

For up-to-date traffic and travel information for the bridges and tunnels of Hampton Roads, call 511, tune to 610 AM or visit the travel section of VirginiaDOT.org to see traffic cameras throughout the region.

The Tunnels

Monitor Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel, Interstate 664

The I-664 Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel (MMMBT) opened in 1992.

These four-lane twin tubes connect Newport News and Hampton to Suffolk and Chesapeake.

The MMMBT typically carries about half of the volume each day of the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel and is a practical, less-congested alternative.

To travel from Interstate 64 to South Hampton Roads using the MMMBT, take the  I-664 South exit (264) and continue to the Interstate 64/264 interchange. The tunnel does not charge a toll.

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Hampton Roads
Bridges and Tunnels
(PDF, 1.17 MB)

Restrictions

• Maximum height: 14 feet 6 inches (with permit)
• Maximum width (with permit): 10 feet 6 inches
• Wider vehicles must be escorted by VDOT.

Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (HRBT), I-64

The Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel is the oldest tunnel on I-64 in Hampton Roads.

It connects Hampton and Newport News to Norfolk and Virginia Beach.

The first two-lane tunnel opened in 1957 and a second opened in 1976.

Nearly three million vehicles use it each month. It carries more than 100,000 vehicles a day during the tourist season.

During heavy traffic, many motorists use the MMMBT on I-664 instead.

The HRBT does not charge a toll.

Restrictions

• I-64 West maximum height: 13 feet 6 inches (without permit)
• I-64 East maximum height: 14 feet 6 inches (with permit)
• Maximum width (with permit): 10 feet 6 inches
• Wider vehicles must be escorted by VDOT.

Downtown Tunnel, I-264

The Downtown Tunnel on I-264 is the oldest of two state-maintained tunnels crossing the Elizabeth River.

The Downtown Tunnel links Norfolk and Portsmouth. The first of two two-lane tunnels opened in 1952 and the second in 1987.

Along with the Berkley Bridge, which connects I-264 and I-464 on the Norfolk side of the tunnel, the Downtown Tunnel carries more than three million vehicles a month. The tunnel doesn’t charge a toll.

Restrictions

• Maximum height:13 feet, 6 inches
  
• Maximum width: 8 feet, 6 inches (without permit); 11 feet (with permit)

Midtown Tunnel, Route 58

More than a million vehicles per month use the Midtown Tunnel.

It opened in 1962 as the second tunnel connecting Norfolk and Portsmouth and carries two lanes of two-way traffic on Route 58 between the cities. The tunnel doesn’t charge a toll.

Restrictions

• Maximum height:13 feet, 6 inches
• Maximum width: 8 feet, 6 inches (without permit); 11 feet (with permit)

Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, Route 13

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel spans the mouth of the bay,  connecting Virginia Beach to Cape Charles in Northampton County on the Eastern Shore.

This is a time-saving shortcut for motorists traveling from Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York.

Built in 1964, the 17.6-mile span is the world’s largest bridge-tunnel complex.

The bridge-tunnel is owned, operated, and maintained by The Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel Commission, not VDOT.

The maximum height is 13 feet, 6 inches.

For toll information and weather condition restrictions, visit www.cbbt.com or call (757) 331-2960.

The Bridges

Hampton Roads' drawbridges open for water traffic according to federal regulations issued by the Coast Guard.  

Some time-of-day restrictions may apply Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays.

George P. Coleman Bridge, Route 17

The George P. Coleman Bridge is a double-swing span that connects Gloucester Point and Yorktown.

The bridge was constructed in 1952 as a two-lane bridge, designed to carry up to 15,000 vehicles a day.

George P. Coleman Bridge

In 1995, the bridge was reconstructed with four lanes to handle increased traffic.

Almost a million vehicles cross each month.

Call E-ZPass at (877) 762-7824 or visit www.ezpassva.com for information on discount programs for frequent users.

Tolls (traveling south to north):

• Commuters (E-Z Pass required): 85 cents
• Two axles: $2
• Three axles: $3
• Four or more axles: $4

Bridge openings and travel conditions

The Coleman Bridge opens upon vessel demand, according to federal regulations. The bridge remains closed from 5 - 8 a.m. and 3 - 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays. It does open for vessels in an emergency.

James River Bridge, Routes 17/258/32

The 4.5-mile James River Bridge (JRB), Virginia’s longest state-maintained bridge, opened in 1928 as the first connector between the Peninsula and South Hampton Roads.
James River Bridge

The JRB carries Routes 17/258/32 between Newport News and Isle of Wight County.

The original two-lane bridge was replaced in 1982 with a four-lane lift span bridge to handle increased traffic.

Nearly one million vehicles use it each month.

It is a smart alternative when the tunnels are congested.

To travel from I-64 to South Hampton Roads over the James River Bridge, take the Mercury Boulevard, Route 258 ramp (exit 263). Continue on Route 17 to the I-664 interchange in Suffolk. The bridge is free.

Openings and travel conditions

The James River Bridge opens upon vessel demand, according to federal regulations. It does not have any periods where openings are restricted.

Berkley Bridge, I-264

The Berkley Bridge opened in 1952 and is part of the I-264 Downtown Tunnel complex, connecting Portsmouth and Norfolk.

The bridge was rebuilt in 1991 to handle increased traffic. The bridge merges I-464 traffic traveling from Chesapeake with I-264 traffic in Norfolk.

Each of the four leafs on the dual drawbridge weighs 640 tons.

Openings and travel conditions

The bridge opens upon vessel demand, according to federal regulations. It remains closed from 6 - 9 a.m. and 3 - 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays.

If a vessel needs it to be opened during these hours, three days notice is required. It does open for vessels in an emergency.

High Rise Bridge, I-64

This concrete and steel drawbridge was built in 1969 in Chesapeake. It crosses the South Branch of the Elizabeth River and carrys more than two million motorists a month.

Openings and travel conditions

The bridge opens upon vessel demand, according to federal regulations. It remains closed from 6 - 9 a.m. and 3 - 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays.

If a vessel needs it to be opened during peak hours, three days notice is required. It does open for vessels in an emergency. Bridge openings occur only about once a week.

Gilmerton Bridge, Routes 13/460

Located on Military Highway west of Bainbridge Boulevard, the four-lane undivided twin bascule span crosses the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River.

The bridge was built in 1938 and is operated by Chesapeake. It currently carries about a million vehicles a month.

Weight limits:

• 14 tons (single units)
• 20 tons (semi trailers)
• 27 tons (twin trailers) 

Traffic Updates

• VDOT's road conditions map
  
  
• Road conditions, bridge openings and traffic information: Virginia: Dial 511, out of state: (866) MY-511-VA, www.511Virginia.org
  
  
• To contact state police in an emergency, dial # 77 on your cell phone.
  
  
• EZ-Pass Virginia: (877) 762-7824, (800) 828-1120 (TTD/ TTY), 7 a.m. - 7 p.m., www.ezpassva.com
  
  
• Traffix: For carpool, tele-work, van pool, guaranteed ride, express bus and park and ride information, or other alternative transportation, 800) 700-RIDE (7433), www.traffixonline.org
  
  
• Traffic Information Radio: 610 AM for Hampton Roads, 530 AM for the Coleman Bridge

Safety Service Patrols

From Newport News to Virginia Beach, the VDOT Hampton Roads Safety Service Patrol operates on more than 100 miles of interstate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Safety Service Patrols offer free assistance to motorists experiencing problems on major arteries, including the:

• HRBT (I-64)
• MMMBT (I-664)
• James River Bridge (Route 17)
• Downtown Tunnel (I-264)
• Midtown Tunnel (Route 58)

Patrollers carry emergency equipment and supplies, including:

• Gasoline
• Air pumps
• Fire extinguishers
• Flares
• Jacks
• Water

Call # 77 from your cell phone for non-emergency roadside assistance.

Traffic Management

VDOT operates traffic management systems on most of the Hampton Roads crossings.

These state-of-the-art, computerized systems use remote cameras, monitors and road sensors to alert operators to traffic situations..

VDOT is then able to inform motorists of possible delays and alternate routes with overhead message boards, radio broadcasts, and the toll-free 511 phone system, thus reducing congestion.

If You’re in an Accident

If you’re in an accident where there are no injuries or your vehicle breaks down, the law requires you to move your car to the road’s shoulder, out of the flow of traffic.

On a bridge or in a tunnel, stay with your vehicle and wait for help. An incident team will be dispatched quickly, as the tunnels and most bridges are monitored.

To call state police from your cell phone, dial # 77.

Hazardous Materials

Before motor homes can go through tunnels, they must stop to have propane tanks checked.

There are regulations on transporting hazardous materials through state-owned tunnels.  Contact VDOT at (804) 786-2848 for details.

Report hazardous materials spills and incidents to CHEMTREC at (800) 424-9300.

Hauling Permits

There are restrictions on the width, height, length and weight of vehicles traveling in Virginia.

Call the Department of Motor Vehicles at (804) 786-2787 for general information and to obtain a permit, or visit www.vahaulingpermits.com