Norfolk Tunnel

[mjatwalker]

Hello Everyone, We are attending the fall rally in Hatteras. Ann and I live
in Maryland so we will have to go through the tunnel at Norfork. Does anyone know if that will be a problem because of propane tanks? We have been to OBX a couple times but not with the 5er.


Thanks for any info, Mike

 

[newbie]

DOT has inspection stations prior to entering the tunnels. When you stop for inspection you can close your tanks and be on your way. A one minute stop and the inspectors are actually pretty nice.

John

 

[mjatwalker]

Thanks John, Now I won't have to look for another route.


Mike

 

[klindgren]

Mike, not that it matters because the procedure is the same for all three tunnel crossing to the Southside, but are you planning on coming down Eastern Shore and crossing the Bay Bridge Tunnel or down I-64 and crossing the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel?? Or I-664 and the Monitor-Merrimac Bridge Tunnel. The main difference is going to be traffic and expense.

Keith

 

[cjhicks]

Mike, If you are comming down the Eastern Shore to the Bay Bridge Tunnel there is a rest area on the Left {with a BIG parking area} just as you get to the toll plaza. You can pull in there and turn off your tanks . We went thru last week and there is no DOT insp. You will have to go thru the far right toll lane, some times the toll taker will ask if you have turned them off and most of the time all they do is take you money and say have a nice trip !!! Just take your time going thru the tunnels . We will see you in Hatters. Calvin

 

[newbie]

The Hampton Roads bridge tunnel does have a pull over inspection station. You have to pull over. It is just prior to the bridge.

John

 

[Jimmyt5]

I missed it one day and they stopped all lanes of traffic until they got to me, embaressing.......

 

[mjatwalker]

Thanks for all the info. Are any of you guys going to the fall rally?

Mike

 

[boatto5er]

Hi Mike,

I know Keith and Calvin are signed up to go. So we far we have 18 rigs on the rally list (and we'll be there, of course). I'll send out a list of current attendees in a couple of weeks.

Gus

 

[andy]

tunnel inspection

I missed it one day and they stopped all lanes of traffic until they got to me, embaressing.......

It happened to my son inlaw too . they stopped all traffic . difference is he was in a hurry an didnt think they would stop him . in the last few months now every time i go thru the monitor- merrimac i have to get out an show them that the tanks are shut off

 

[beasleyrl]

Word of warning for those going East on I-664 through the Monitor-Merrimac Bridge Tunnel. I just went this way this past weekend. About a half mile before the "gas inspection station" place there was a very bad dip in the right lane. Long story short, we just about got bounced out of our seat -- AND -- broke a leaf spring on the Cyclone! Fortunately, the rig continued to allow us to drive to a breakdown lot on the far side of the bridge.

 

[Flying Dutchman]

We have used the 664 bridge/tunnel as well as the 64 tunnel a few times while pulling our Sundance, and there are some very rough spots. Sorry to hear that you incurred damage. How have you handled repairs?

 

[enthuz]

VDOT post that warning on the LED signs warning of that danger for motorcycles. They are slowly working towards that way correcting the road. Due to cuts, it is taking a while to finish.

 

[beasleyrl]

We saw the warnings for motorcycles but didn't think it would cause us a problem (we are slightly larger -- 41' of trailer plus the truck). We've been through the tunnels on the other side and never had a problem. Lesson learned this time -- the hard way!

Good Sam ERS actually had a hard time finding someone to help. This was Friday evening before Memorial Day. It took them 2 hours to find someone and then they were 2 hours (80 miles) from us. They came out, "blocked" the axle, and followed us back to their repair center off of 95 (between Richmond and the NC line). We got to their location at 3am. Slept in the trailer (thank goodness for the generator!) in their parking lot. They started working on it at 7am and we were on the road about noon.

I also have to give Vdot credit on their road service. When we pulled into the breakdown lane, they turned the lights on the bridge in the lane next to us to yellow. Then, they sent a truck out to assist us. The guy actually tied up the broken steel from the leaf springs and escorted us with his big sign to the lot. He even checked on us about every hour while we were waiting for ERS.

 

[boatto5er]

Wow, that's quite an adventure. Glad to hear everything turned out OK in the end.

 

[andy]

rough road at monitor-merrimac

Word of warning for those going East on I-664 through the Monitor-Merrimac Bridge Tunnel. I just went this way this past weekend. About a half mile before the "gas inspection station" place there was a very bad dip in the right lane. Long story short, we just about got bounced out of our seat -- AND -- broke a leaf spring on the Cyclone! Fortunately, the rig continued to allow us to drive to a breakdown lot on the far side of the bridge.

The road going into an out of the tunnel is horrible on both sides especially on the right side the side campers have to be in . I always try to time my entering into the tunnel with no vehicles on my left an straddle the yellow line . One of these days i'll probably get a ticket but the holes are so bad i'm afraid i will bust a tire

 

[itsbeertime]

I do the same thing as andy with trying to straddle the center line. There are HUGE potholes in the right lane just at the entrance/exit to the tunnel going both ways. It's amazing there aren't more wrecks due to these alone.

I should clarify I'm talking about the MMBT on 664. I never use the other tunnel.

 

[andy]

the holes in the pavment at the monitor-merrimac tunnel finally made the news .Went thru it today now they are attemping to fix them

 

[itsbeertime]

Well happy day!!!

 

[beasleyrl]

Well, if they funded that, think they would mind funding the $550 repair bill I got hit with???