MANDEVILLE, La. — The fare to get from the Northshore to New Orleans is going up. Drivers can expect to pay more to cross the causeway this fall.
The causeway commission said the hike is a planned adjustment for inflation.
For Northshore resident, Danny Sicard, it came as a surprise.
“It kind of makes sense. It does. Because they did some work to it. Added the new railings and stuff," Sicard said. "And so, yeah, I can go along with it. It doesn’t affect me that much so I can say that other people it may not.”
Sicard is retired and only takes the causeway once a week. Others cross the bridge more often.
“About 3 or 4 times a week, and it’s like everything else. The cost of living is going up. It’s going to continue to go up, and there’s not a lot we can do about it," Northshore resident, John Lewis, said.
In 2016 a $100 million dollar bond was passed to improve the bridge's safety. The bond requires that every seven years, the toll is adjusted for inflation.
“Primary reason is to keep up with expenses whether it’s maintenance on the bridge, operations and that’s the short story," Causeway General Manager, Carlton Dufrechou, said.
Dufrechou estimates that if you have a causeway tag, your $3 dollar fare could increase to $3.60 or $3.70.
The cash toll would increase from five to six dollars or more, Dufrechou said.
“The budget analysts are working on it right now. We should have those numbers late June, early July," Dufrechou said.
Dufrechou said it would take effect in November.
“It could hit you in the pocket, quite badly," Sicard said.
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