I-664 South Closed at MMMBT After Crash

The Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel (MMMBT) is a critical 4.6-mile-long crossing on Interstate 664, connecting the independent cities of Newport News and Suffolk in southeastern Virginia. As part of the Hampton Roads Beltway, it serves as a vital link for both commercial and passenger traffic, supplementing the older Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel and the James River Bridge. Opened in April 1992 at a cost of $400 million, the MMMBT was the largest public project in Virginia's history at the time. The structure includes a four-lane tunnel that is 4,800 feet long, two artificial portal islands, and 3.2 miles of twin trestle bridges. Its name commemorates the historic Battle of Hampton Roads between the ironclad warships USS Monitor and CSS Virginia (formerly the USS Merrimack), which took place nearby in 1862. Full closures of the MMMBT are not uncommon and can be caused by a range of incidents, from multi-vehicle crashes to vehicle fires and even incidents where vehicles have gone over the side of the bridge. These closures can last for hours, causing significant traffic backups, sometimes for several miles. When a full closure occurs, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) typically diverts traffic to other major crossings. The primary alternative routes are the I-64 Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (HRBT) and the Route 17 James River Bridge, which then experience a surge in volume and associated delays. To manage traffic flow and respond to incidents, the facility is monitored by a traffic management center using 33 closed-circuit television cameras and 72 sensors embedded in the pavement that check for disruptions every 20 seconds. In the event of a closure, 32 electronic message signs are activated to advise motorists of alternative routes.