Author Topic: Chesapeake Bay Tunnel to ACA AC Route  (Read 15544 times)

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Offline Spokey

Chesapeake Bay Tunnel to ACA AC Route
« on: August 09, 2011, 05:23:13 pm »
My brother and I are heading for Key West starting mid-Sept.  We have planned a route to Cape May NJ -> Lewes Ferry -> Assateague (camping) -> Chesapeake Bay Tunnel -> ACA route.

I read a blog a couple years ago that you could call the Chesapeake Bay Tunnel folks and for the price of the toll, they would cart you to Virginia Beach.  I think that I called them at the time and verified this and my brother is going to do it again (soon I hope), but was wondering if anyone here could verify this and/or provide other information.  How long did it take?  How well did it work?  How much advance notice?  etc.

I would also appreciate the advice of anyone who has done something like this or who lives in the area with tips.

This is the route we have planned at this point http://ridewithgps.com/routes/604609

Offline JHamelman

Re: Chesapeake Bay Tunnel to ACA AC Route
« Reply #1 on: August 10, 2011, 08:42:00 am »
Hi Spokey,

I read a blog a couple years ago that you could call the Chesapeake Bay Tunnel folks and for the price of the toll, they would cart you to Virginia Beach.  I think that I called them at the time and verified this and my brother is going to do it again (soon I hope), but was wondering if anyone here could verify this and/or provide other information.  How long did it take?  How well did it work?  How much advance notice?  etc.

You can contact the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel staff via the information at the Virginia Department of Transportation website to get most of your questions answered:

http://www.virginiadot.org/programs/bk-info.asp

.Jennifer.
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*

Jennifer Hamelman

Adventure Cycling Association
Inspiring and empowering people to travel by bicycle.
800/755-2453, 406/721-1776 x205
www.adventurecycling.org

Follow Routes & Mapping on Twitter: @acaroutes

Offline Spokey

Re: Chesapeake Bay Tunnel to ACA AC Route
« Reply #2 on: August 11, 2011, 04:56:43 pm »
Thanks.  Was able to confirm that.  I was told to call "3 or 4 days beforehand".

Offline BrianW

Re: Chesapeake Bay Tunnel to ACA AC Route
« Reply #3 on: August 15, 2011, 12:53:03 pm »
There's also a parking/rest area on the north side of the Bay Bridge/Tunnel, just before the tolls. Worst case you could probably ask around there and find somebody with a truck that would take you across if you offer to pay the toll.

Offline Spokey

Re: Chesapeake Bay Tunnel to ACA AC Route
« Reply #4 on: August 15, 2011, 03:07:55 pm »
Thanks.  I've heard of people doing that.  A little harder as there will be two of us.  Having now heard it on a blog, Jennifer's reference, the VA DOT site, and actually calling them, I'm pretty comfortable this cart a bicycle across exists and should work for us.

It would be nice to actually talk to someone who had done it to find out how precise our arrival needs to be.  For example, we call up a few days beforehand.  Do you need a precise ETA?  Hard for a cyclist.   Or do we call again when we get there and wait 30 minutes?  1 hour?  4 hours? 

Offline Westinghouse

Re: Chesapeake Bay Tunnel to ACA AC Route
« Reply #5 on: August 18, 2011, 01:03:15 pm »
Another cyclist and I took the designated truck ride across / through the CBBT. I believe it was $15.00 or something like that. That was 2004, I think.

Offline Spokey

Re: Chesapeake Bay Tunnel to ACA AC Route
« Reply #6 on: August 18, 2011, 06:07:32 pm »
I know it might be different now, but how did it go?  They told me to call them 3-4 days before I wanted to cross. 

How precise did you need to be?  Did you have to make a reservation 3 days in advance for say 10AM and be there by 10AM? 

Or did you just let them know and call when you got there on day 3? 

If that, did you have to wait long?  Come to think of it, did you have to wait long regardless the answers above?

I realize 2004 is a bit long ago, but any details on the contacts, hookup, where they picked up and left off would be appreciated.

thx.

BTW, I think it is $12 now.  But I don't know if that is per ride or per cyclist.

Offline Westinghouse

Re: Chesapeake Bay Tunnel to ACA AC Route
« Reply #7 on: August 24, 2011, 11:29:54 am »
I don't remember the details. I believe it was a short wait. There was definitely not a line of cyclists waiting to be transported. I think someone did call ahead. I am not sure calling ahead is necessary. I do remember the driver told us a suitcase had washed ashore with human body-parts in it. I think we had only a very short wait. I would just get on the horn and ask them, but I'm afraid I would not know who or where to call.

Offline litespeed

Re: Chesapeake Bay Tunnel to ACA AC Route
« Reply #8 on: September 13, 2011, 11:33:43 pm »
All they ask is that you call an hour or so in advance. They will take you across if you just show up cold but will grumble and give you the evil eye. I have done it a number of times heading north. I stop at a greek diner a block or so west of the southern tunnel entrance and call them before eating. The maintenance pickup is either waiting for me or soon arrives when I get there. All you have to do is pay the toll.

Offline Spokey

Re: Chesapeake Bay Tunnel to ACA AC Route
« Reply #9 on: September 14, 2011, 08:48:41 pm »
They told me to call 2-3 days before.  Think I should do that then call that hour before too?

Offline litespeed

Re: Chesapeake Bay Tunnel to ACA AC Route
« Reply #10 on: October 20, 2011, 11:59:52 am »
Calling two or three days in advance doesn't sound sensible to me. Who knows the exact time you will arrive that far in the future? I have had no trouble with an hour's notice.