BELLE CHASSE, La. — The Belle Chasse Tunnel is permanently closing.
It’s the end of an era, built in 1956 the Belle Chasse tunnel, known to locals as the Belle Chasse car wash because of the constant leaking, is closing.
Approximately 33,000 vehicles travel through the tunnel and over the draw bridge daily, but the Belle Chasse Bridge and Tunnel Replacement project will see the tunnel close permanently on Wednesday, Dec. 20. Southbound traffic will now use the new bridge, while northbound traffic will continue to use the old draw bridge until the other side is complete in April 2024.
Abbe Ginn, with the project, says the tunnel and the draw bridge will be decommissioned, saying, "The tunnel will be walled off and will seal naturally with the water."
She says the traffic flow is, "Not going to be a major impact who are using the tunnel now because they will be rerouted around and stripped over here to the new bridge."
She says this construction will greatly improve traffic flow, with the northbound draw bridge set to be decommissioned eventually.
"Our existing bridge currently lifts to allow marine traffic boats to come underneath, but this new bridge we are building is 73 feet at its tallest point, so boats won't need to pass underneath as it lifts... they will just go right under, so no more stopping."
There will be tolls in place on both sides. For Plaquemines parish residents, it’ll cost 25 cents each way. While that doesn’t seem like a lot, if you were to ride across the bridge five days a week, in and out of the city that’s $130 annually.
For everyone else, toll rates are yet to be set. Ginn said, "The other rates for tolling are going to be dependent on CPI, so inflation for 2024, which we will be announcing in January."
Maureen Lynch, who works at Town View Cafe says she's happy to pay the toll it helps reduce traffic, she said, "To me, it's worth it if we can modernize and get this traffic flowing."
She went on to say, that during peak hours, traffic is bumper to bumper, she said, "It'll do Belle Chasse good for the traffic, because of the new plant it's been so busy."
Cory Niedfeldt says he prays every time he drives through the tunnel that it doesn't collapse, "I have been going through that tunnel for 30 years and it's been constantly leaking anyway, and you just hope they are patching it up properly and everything is safe."
There won’t be any stopping to pay at toll booths, you won’t have to pull out a quarter, you can get a free pass that will go on your windshield, and it’ll electronically charge you. For Plaquemines Parish residents, you can go to the project site, and upload proof of address so you’re only charged the .25 cents. Tolls will go into effect in 2024 when the project is finished.
► Get breaking news from your neighborhood delivered directly to you by downloading the new FREE WWL-TV News app now in the IOS App Store or Google Play.