<P> Since it opened , the Chesapeake Bay Bridge -- Tunnel has been crossed by more than 100 million vehicles . The CBBT complex carries U.S. Route 13 , the main north -- south highway on Virginia 's Eastern Shore , and , as part of the East Coast 's longstanding Ocean Highway , provides the only direct link between the Eastern Shore and South Hampton Roads regions , as well as an alternate route to link the Northeast and points in between with Norfolk and the Carolinas . The bridge -- tunnel saves motorists 95 miles ( 153 km ) and ​ 1 ⁄ hours on a trip between Virginia Beach / Norfolk and points north and east of the Delaware Valley without going through the traffic congestion in the Baltimore -- Washington Metropolitan Area . The $15 toll is partially offset by some savings of tolls in Maryland and Delaware on I - 95 . From 1995 to 1999 , at a cost of almost $200 million , the capacity of the above - water portion was increased to four lanes . An upgrade of the two - lane tunnels was proposed but has not been carried out . </P>
<P> Since it opened , the Chesapeake Bay Bridge -- Tunnel has been crossed by more than 100 million vehicles . The CBBT complex carries U.S. Route 13 , the main north -- south highway on Virginia 's Eastern Shore , and , as part of the East Coast 's longstanding Ocean Highway , provides the only direct link between the Eastern Shore and South Hampton Roads regions , as well as an alternate route to link the Northeast and points in between with Norfolk and the Carolinas . The bridge -- tunnel saves motorists 95 miles ( 153 km ) and ​ 1 ⁄ hours on a trip between Virginia Beach / Norfolk and points north and east of the Delaware Valley without going through the traffic congestion in the Baltimore -- Washington Metropolitan Area . The $15 toll is partially offset by some savings of tolls in Maryland and Delaware on I - 95 . From 1995 to 1999 , at a cost of almost $200 million , the capacity of the above - water portion was increased to four lanes . An upgrade of the two - lane tunnels was proposed but has not been carried out . </P>
how much did it cost to build the chesapeake bay bridge tunnel
how much did it cost to build the chesapeake bay bridge tunnel
almost $200 million
almost $200 million