The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel was built in two major sections without local, state, or federal tax money: the north section cost $200,000,000, took 42 months, and opened April 15, 1964, while the south section cost $250,000,000, took 46 months, and opened April 19, 1999. The crossing stretches 17.6 miles from shore to shore. Its support trestles stand on 2,523 piles in the north section and 2,591 in the south section. The North Channel Bridges are each 3,780 feet long with 75 feet of clearance, and the Fisherman Inlet Bridge is 460 feet long with 40 feet of clearance. Water depth along the route ranges from 25 to 100 feet. Each tunnel is 1 mile long, and additional tunnels were planned for the future.
