View source for Monitor–Merrimac Memorial Bridge–Tunnel

{{One source|date=May 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox Bridge
| image = File:Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel.jpg
| bridge_name = Monitor–Merrimac Memorial Bridge–Tunnel
| locale = [[Suffolk, Virginia|Suffolk]] to [[Newport News, Virginia|Newport News]], Virginia
| image_caption = Southbound side of the tunnel in 2006
| carries = {{jct|country=USA|I|664}}
| crosses = [[Hampton Roads]]
| maint = [[Virginia Department of Transportation]]
| clearance = {{Convert|14|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}}
| lanes = 4
| open = {{start date and age|April 30, 1992}}
| design = Composite: low-level [[Trestle bridge|trestle]], double-tube [[tunnel]], artificial islands
| length = {{Convert|4.6|mi|km|abbr=on}}
| mapframe-zoom = 10
}}
The '''Monitor–Merrimac Memorial Bridge–Tunnel''' ('''MMMBT''') is the {{Convert|4.6|mi|km|-long|adj=mid}} [[Hampton Roads]] crossing for [[Interstate 664|Interstate&nbsp;664]] (I-664) in the southeastern portion of [[Virginia]] in the [[United States]]. It is a four-lane [[bridge–tunnel]] composed of [[bridge]]s, trestles, artificial [[island]]s, and [[tunnels]] under a portion of the Hampton Roads harbor where the mouths of the [[James River|James]], [[Nansemond River|Nansemond]], and [[Elizabeth River (Virginia)|Elizabeth]] rivers come together.

It connects the independent cities of [[Newport News, Virginia|Newport News]] on the [[Virginia Peninsula]] and [[Suffolk, Virginia|Suffolk]] in [[South Hampton Roads]] and is part of the [[Hampton Roads Beltway]], a circumferential Interstate Highway which links the seven largest cities of Hampton Roads.

The MMMBT, completed in 1992, provided a third major vehicle crossing of the Hampton Roads harbor area, supplementing the [[Hampton Roads Bridge–Tunnel]] which carries [[Interstate 64|I-64]] between the independent cities of [[Hampton, Virginia|Hampton]] and [[Norfolk, Virginia|Norfolk]] (1957), and the [[James River Bridge]] connecting the independent city of [[Newport News, Virginia|Newport News]] and [[Isle of Wight County, Virginia|Isle of Wight County]] in the South Hampton Roads region (1928).

The MMMBT cost $400&nbsp;million to build, and it includes a four-lane tunnel that is {{Convert|4800|ft|m}} long, two artificial portal islands, and {{Convert|3.2|mi|km}} of twin trestle.

==Battle of Hampton Roads==
[[File:I-664 (VA) map.svg|left|thumb|Map of I-664]]
The MMMBT is named for the two [[ironclad warship]]s which engaged in the famous [[Battle of Hampton Roads]] on March 8–9, 1862, during the [[US Civil War]]. The battle took place between {{Ship|USS|Monitor}} and {{Ship|CSS|Virginia}}. The latter ship had been rebuilt from the wreck of {{Ship|USS|Merrimack|1855|6}}. The site of the battle was within {{Convert|1|mi|km|spell=in}} of the bridge–tunnel structure named by the Commonwealth of Virginia as a memorial.

==See also==
* [[List of bridges]]
* [[Lists of tunnels]]
* [[List of bridge–tunnels]]

==References==
* Rand McNally "The Road Atlas", 2005.

==External links==
* [http://www.roadstothefuture.com/I664_VA_MMMBT_Aerial.html Roads to the Future website]
* [http://www.kurumi.com/roads/3di/ix64.html#664va Kurumi's website about 3 digit interstates connecting with I-64]
* [http://www.virginiadot.org/travel/hro-tunnel-default.asp Virginia Dept. of Transportation: Hampton Roads Tunnels and Bridges]
* [http://www.snopes.com/photos/architecture/bridgetunnel.asp Snopes.com discussion about photo]
* [https://maps.google.com/maps?ll=36.953870,-76.409311&spn=0.030755,0.045458&t=k&hl=en Google Maps]

{{Water Crossings in the Hampton Roads Region}}
{{Crossings navbox
|structure       = Crossings
|place           = [[James River (Virginia)|James River]] / [[Hampton Roads]]
|bridge          = Monitor–Merrimac Memorial Bridge–Tunnel
|bridge signs    = [[Image:I-664.svg|25px]]
|upstream        = [[James River Bridge]]
|upstream signs  = [[Image:US 17.svg|20px]] [[Image:US 258.svg|25px]] [[Image:Virginia 32.svg|20px]]
|downstream      = [[Hampton Roads Bridge–Tunnel]]
|downstream signs = [[Image:I-64.svg|20px]] [[Image:US 60.svg|20px]]
}}

{{Bridge–tunnels}}
{{Authority control}}
{{coord|36.940837|-76.401672|type:city_region:US|format=dms|display=title}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel}}
[[Category:Bridges completed in 1992]]
[[Category:Road tunnels in Virginia]]
[[Category:Bridge–tunnels in North America]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Newport News, Virginia]]
[[Category:Transportation in Newport News, Virginia]]
[[Category:Transportation in Suffolk, Virginia]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Suffolk, Virginia]]
[[Category:Monuments and memorials in Virginia]]
[[Category:Tunnels completed in 1992]]
[[Category:Road bridges in Virginia]]
[[Category:Immersed tube tunnels in the United States]]
[[Category:Crossings of the James River (Virginia)]]
[[Category:Trestle bridges in the United States]]
[[Category:Bridges on the Interstate Highway System]]