This famous bridge was named after a battle of two US Civil War ships at a place that also shares its name with a London street. Where is this bridge, what is highly remarkable about it, and why is it widely and incomprehensively confused with a Scandanavian structure of similar dimensions? (By Googling names of both structures you will end up with the same picture, go figure..)

McGruff

This should get us started. Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel (I-664) Interstate 664 is the 20.7-mile-long freeway that connects I-64 in Hampton, Virginia to I-64/I-264 in Chesapeake, Virginia, completed in April 1992. I-664 includes the 4.6-mile Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel (MMMBT). http://www.roadstothefuture.com/I664_VA_MMMBT.html Apr 18 06, 6:35 AM

McGruff

Sweden to Denmark? Not likely! When we received the image at left from a visitor to the site, we were so amazed at the ingenuity of the engineering that we took for granted the accompanying information that told us that this bridge/tunnel connected Denmark with Sweden. It took an amazing two days before a more astute visitor to the UC&P web site informed us that the image in question was not in fact linking these two fine Scandinavian countries, but was instead a picture of the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel in Virginia, USA. For other great images of the bridge/tunnel, why not check out the "Roads of the Future" web site. http://www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au/unique_cars_news_06.htm The Scandinavian bridge/tunnel: 16.4-kilometre bridge tunnel is called the Oresund Link and joins Copenhagen, Denmark and Malmo, Sweden. "It consists of an immersed tunnel under the Drogden Channel between Copenhagen and a very large artificial island, and a cable stay bridge between the artificial island and Malmo. And how it may have become confused: http://portlincoln.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp?story_id=326296&class=news">http://portlincoln.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp?story_id=326296&class=news If you put Oresund Link into Google Images, the third picture from the left in the fifth row down is actually the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel. Apr 18 06, 6:44 AM

woodardr

The water-area through which the MMMBT travels is called "Hampton Roads", which is a phrase that recalls it being a harbor back in the age-of-sail days. Apr 18 06, 10:05 AM

peasypod

Very well done McG, and extra large Golden Banana for you. Watching a documentary the other night regarding the Oresund Bridge and the remarkable fact that it transforms into a tunnel halfway across to allow shipping passages inspired me to research this and I was somewhat discombobulated when I kept getting this Civil War/Hampton Road Battle conjunction. Here is the one in Virginia: http://www.roadstothefuture.com/I664_VA_MMMBT_Aerial.html .....and what I found on Snopes: http://www.snopes.com/photos/architecture/bridgetunnel.asp">http://www.snopes.com/photos/architecture/bridgetunnel.asp Apr 18 06, 6:04 PM