1971 Map of Chesapeake Channel

About this map

Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel cuts a bold diagonal across the open waters of the Chesapeake Bay in this 1971 study. This map documents a critical infrastructure link, showing the path where the (Toll) road transitions into the Chesapeake Channel tunnel to allow for deep-water shipping. The hydrographic data, compiled from U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey charts, reveals the complex underwater topography of the lower bay. Maritime researchers can trace the hazardous shallows of Nine Foot Shoal and the shifting sandbars of the Inner Middle Ground and Middle Ground. These features define the natural maritime corridors of the North Channel, illustrating the delicate balance between natural nautical obstacles and the engineering required to bridge them for automotive travel.