2013 Map of Chesapeake Channel

About this map

Virginia Beach maritime geography is defined here by the engineering of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel as it spans the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. This 2013 survey documents the specific path of the Chesapeake Channel Tunnel, where the bridge transitions beneath the waves to allow for the deep-draft shipping traffic of the Chesapeake Channel. The map provides a focused look at the underwater topography and hazards essential to navigation in these coastal waters. Named shoals and shallow banks rise from the bay floor, including Inner Middle Ground, Middle Ground, and Nine Foot Shoal. To the south of the main channel, White Shoal further marks the transition into the open waters near the jurisdictional boundary of Virginia Beach.