Chesapeake bay bridge tunnel

In storm situations the white waves are not the ones you should worry about. Its the coming of the large slow green rollers that reach almost to the bottom of your bridge decking later on in the storm process.

 

Cargo ships, merchant vessels, Navy ships, etc... You need not worry... The tunnel is 75 ft from the surface. most civilian vessels sit much closer to the water line to accommodate shallow ports. In actuality Navy carriers have a deeper draft than most merchants of 50+ feet. (depending on a number of factors so I'm giving a general number)

So to me, I would be more nervous in high winds and heavy seas on the surface, than I would being in the tunnel. I also would mention that I served on CV-66, CVN-65, and CVN-73... So considering how most drivers act in snowy weather, crappy rain, etc... I wouldn't worry unless the CBBT in shut down. LOL

 

I have sit and watched the Carriers leave port and go through this area out to sea. I have not taken the time to confirm this, but I understand the Navy won't allow the carriers to operate over any of the bridge tunnels unless it's high tide.

 

For the Safety factor, yes carriers (and not JUST carriers) generally go out at high tide. There is a very low probability that the water from under the ship can create enough of a disturbance that over time, it can cause damage to the ship or the tunnel as it passes over it. I have gone in and out of that area in both low and high tide. But yes, common sense tells us that high tide, slack tide, etc... is the best way to get a 1000+ ft ship out of port safely.

I was talking in general terms to the point of a driver going across/under it; not trying to start a debate on the technical aspects of a ship entering or leaving Naval Station Norfolk.

 

Most of drivers are not capable of technical debate on driving a large vessel out of Norfolk or dealing with the Cape passages etc. Baltimore port sometimes hold a hundred or more at anchor waiting their turn south of the US 50 bay bridge.

There is one thing that the Chesapeake Bay does have which is worrisome. "Neap tides" reduced to simple terms if you are expecting 4 feet of tide and all of a sudden all you get is ankle deep if that. No place to put anything.

 

One of the few pleasures of my life is watching ships come in and out of Norfolk. My home is near Phoebus and just a short distance from the Elizabeth River. It's funny in a way. In my senior years I rather talk about Navy Ships then most anything else.

 

While I agree and understand and respect the difficulties... Does it matter to a dry box trucker going on CBBT. NO.

Again, I was only trying to lessen the stress and debate of the issues that are faced going thru there...

TBH, My biggest issue of going that way is the possibility of over height. One bulge on the roof of a crappy trailer, can cause you to REVERSE your course, taking 95; or if you find yourself going south and you get denied access... Your only course of action is to drive ALL the way to US 50 and cross back into Maryland and go 95. So now you just wasted 4 to 5 hours for naught.

And yes, I agree... I still have a house in Va Beach, and having served for as long as I have, I still find it difficult to not revert back to Navy terms and think like a sailor... lol

 

We tend to talk or think on the high points of our youth in life. Whatever it might be. I for one refuse to just sit and rot in place. So its not the end of the story.

 

There is a line in that movie The Shawshank Redemption I have always loved to quote. "Get busy living or get busy dying" You can't ever stop living! My problems come from the fact I have to deal with limitations all the time. I'm an old Air Force guy. Even if I had to do it over again I would have joined the AF, not the Navy. I am just drawn to those ships. I have had the pleasure of paying my respects at the Cole Memorial at Norfolk and have many times been on the roads near the Norfolk Navy Base Piers. I have also been on the pier where the USS Ford was moored in once, not on the Ford mind you, just on the pier. I'm not ready to die just yet. I just have had to recognize my physical limitations and stay within them.