U.S. 13 passes through eastern reaches of Virginia along a 142.91 mile course from Suffolk in Hampton Roads to the Maryland state line north of New Church. U.S. 13 runs 14.95 miles northeast from the North Carolina border to a freeway bypass of Suffolk. Combining with U.S. 58 and U.S. 460, U.S. 13 continues east to Bowers Hill in Suffolk.
U.S. 13/460 separate from U.S. 58 along Military Highway to SR 166 (Bainbridge Boulevard) in Chesapeake. U.S. 460 turns north paralleling I-464 toward Downtown Norfolk while U.S. 13 (Military Highway) loops northeast into Virginia Beach. Following Northampton Boulevard, U.S. 13 heads east to U.S. 60 (Shore Boulevard) and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (CBBT).
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (CBBT) spans the mouth of Chesapeake Bay 20 miles north from Chesapeake Beach to Fishermans Island and Cape Charles on the Delmarva Peninsula. U.S. 13 continues north as the main route to Eastville, Accomac and Salisbury, Maryland.
U.S. 13 Virginia Guides
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel joins Virginia Beach in Hampton Roads with the Virginia Eastern Shore in Northampton County. The toll facility is 23 miles in length including the approach roads. Taking 42 months to build, the crossing opened on April 15, 1964 with two lanes. The CBBT includes the Thimble Shoal Tunnel and Chesapeake Channel Tunnel, both around a mile in length. A high rise bridge spans the North Channel onto Fishermans Island, with a mid level span connecting the Wildlife Refuge on the island with Cape Charles.
The North Channel Bridge along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (CBBT) from the scenic overlook at Wise Point on Cape Charles in Virginia. 12/30/17
The CBBT was expanded with southbound spans added south to Island 4, between Island 3 and North Thimble Island, and from South Thimble Island to Virginia Beach. Taking 46 months to construct, the southbound bridges were built along the west side of the original crossing. They opened April 19, 1999.
Costing $755.99 million, the Parallel Thimble Shoal Tunnel Project adds a second two lane tunnel across Thimble Shoal Channel at a maximum depth of 134 feet. Started on October 1, 2017, construction runs through at least 2024 2027. The Sea Gull Restaurant and fishing pier on South Thimble Island were demolished to make way for the new tunnel.
Rest areas were previously located on both sides of South Thimble Island. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was referenced for the U-turn onto U.S. 13 northbound. 12/17/01
Thimble Shoal Channel tunnel as seen from the former Sea Gull Pier Restaurant pedestrian bridge. 12/17/01
Connect with:
Interstate 64
Interstate 264
Interstate 664
U.S. 17
U.S. 58
U.S. 60
U.S. 460
Page Updated 04-16-2021.