**Viral Video Shows Cars ‘Vanishing’ on \$400M Virginia Bridge—But It’s Just an Optical Illusion**
A viral video showing cars seemingly disappearing into water has sparked confusion online. “Witnessing vehicles seem to disappear as they drove into the ocean? My bingo card did not have something on it,” one post joked.
The clip, which has millions of views on X (formerly Twitter), shows vehicles driving on a bridge that appears to end mid-water. But it’s no magic—just the **Monitor Merrimac Memorial Bridge Tunnel (MMMBT)** in Virginia.
This 4.6-mile structure connects Newport News and Suffolk across three rivers and includes **twin elevated roads, two manmade islands, and a 4,800-foot underwater tunnel**. As cars descend into the tunnel, it creates a **“really cool optical illusion.”**
Built for over \$400 million and opened in 1992, the MMMBT was designed with national security and ship traffic in mind. Instead of a tall bridge, the tunnel allows large military and commercial vessels to pass above while reducing weather and attack risks, especially near **Naval Station Norfolk**.
Online reactions were mixed—some amazed, others snarky. “That’s called a tunnel, my friend,” one user wrote. Another added, **“Appreciate engineers!”**
