Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (CBBT) directors voted at their latest meeting for an approximate 10% toll increase to come into effect Jan. 1, 2014.
The higher tolls were adopted as part of a plan to finance an $800 million “dualization” of one of the two single-tube tunnels.
Similar 10% increases in toll rates will be applied every five years in future to generate the revenues to support second tubes, according to a report in TollRoads News.
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel is a 17.6-mile long crossing of the mouth of Chesapeake Bay.
It connects the Delaware/Maryland/Virginia-- hence 'Delmarva' peninsula or eastern shore of Chesapeake Bay-- to the Hampton Roads, VA, metro area and to the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
The traffic served is predominantly comprised of vacationers in cars, often with trailers, as well as long-haul truckers.
The Delmarva Peninsula US113/CBBT route between Hampton Roads and I-95 in Delaware — and hence access to the Philadelphia and New York metro area — saves 90 miles as compared to the I-95/I-64 route through the Baltimore, Washington and Richmond metro areas.
Heavy truck traffic comprises 9.4% of CBBT traffic year-round and 22% of its revenue. That's about 1,000 trucks a day but a small fraction of truck traffic on the parallel interstates I-95 and I-64, according to the news report.
Following are the new toll rates for trucks, effective Jan. 1, 2014:
· Class 2 vehicle with return trip within 24 hours $10
· Class 3 vehicle with return trip within 24 hours $14
· Class 4 vehicle with return trip within 24 hours $18
· Two axle, six tire vehicle (except buses) $19
· Three axle vehicle (except buses $23
· Four-axle vehicle $31
· Five-axle vehicle $39
· Six-axle vehicle $47
· Over-dimension vehicle $66
· Over-dimension vehicle requiring escort $220
