Touring - Anyone familiar with bridges to Chincoteague Island (eastern VA/MD)?

Chincoteague Island is a barrier island on the eastern edge of the Delmarva Peninsula. There are two bridges connecting the mainland with this island. The southern one is several short spans on highway 175 (in Virginia). The northern one is a longer span in Maryland on highway 611.

Has anyone ridden or driven over these bridges and can tell me if they can be ridden on a bike?

Thanks,

Ray

(I've cross-posed this on the Southeastern forum, as well)

Actually -

I was confused at first what you were asking.
The barrier island is Assateague Island which stretches from Maryland down to Virginia.
Chincoteague is an island in the sound only in Virginia.

I don't know Chincoteague and don't wish to - too crowded, no beach camping.
Assateague is stunning. The state park has upscale camping.
You can hike in to remote beach camping in the national seashore.

And the bridge - check it out on Google Earth.
Hwy 611 has a separate paved bike trail and a SEPARATE bike bridge.
(I think it must have been the old highway.)

PS - If you are planning to be in the Delmarva -
There are several passenger only ferries that take bikes to Smith Island and Tangier Island in Chesapeake Bay and then on to Cape Lookout in Maryland or Reedville in the Northern Neck of Virginia. They are a little pricey - and you can get a cheaper ride on the Cape May Ferry across Delaware Bay - but getting out on the Chesapeake is lovely.

See my reply here:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?625979-Anyone-familiar-with-bridges-to-Chincoteague-Island-%28eastern-VA-MD%29&p=10480969&viewfull=1#post10480969

I've ridden the 175 route and bridge several times, it is certanily doable by bicyle, the new bridge will probably be even better for cyclists.

I don't know Chincoteague and don't wish to - too crowded, no beach camping.
Assateague is stunning. The state park has upscale camping.
You can hike in to remote beach camping in the national seashore.


Granted, it's not large (Chincoteague) and it does have a population—unlike Assateague which is a park (the ponies bite)—but it's certainly worth visiting. Particularly if you like seafood. They have the best oysters I've ever had. I drive down once or twice over the winter just to get a bushel. That, and if you time your visit to when NASA is launching a rocket from Wallops—you get a nice show. Check NASA's website (one of the gazillion) for Wallops Launches. The night launches are the best. The southern part of the Eastern Shore is the very nicest part. Don't be surprised if you have a hard time understanding some of the old-timers.

As jamawani mentioned, there are several ferries in the Summer. The closest would be Reedville,VA to Tangier Island to Crisfield, MD. Twenty odd bucks, which isn't bad. Call 'em first—they don't run if there's not enough passengers or the weather turns particularly foul. The Cape May-Lewis Ferry doesn't figure into things unless you want to go to or are coming from New Jersey.

People say the mid-West is flat. You haven't seen flat until you've ridden on the Eastern Shore.

Some typical scenes:
http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee215/Savaje/Trans%20Am/P1000778.jpg
The Pocomoke River.

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee215/Savaje/Trans%20Am/P1000845.jpg
Tangier Island. Chincoteague resembles it.

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee215/Savaje/Trans%20Am/P1000848.jpg
The family crab shacks at Tangier.

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee215/Savaje/Trans%20Am/P1000851.jpg
The two ferries at Tangier. One brings you from Reedville, then you jump on the other to get to Crisfield.

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee215/Savaje/Trans%20Am/P1000890.jpg
Reedville, VA. The towns and islands all kind'a resemble one another. I'm partial to them.

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee215/Savaje/Odd%20Stuff/windyhill.jpg
Typical scene.

Thanks for all the great information. It was just what I was looking for!