BELLE CHASSE, La. — On Monday, the Belle Chasse Bridge and Tunnel Replacement Project announced a date for the permanent closure of the Belle Chasse Tunnel.
According to a project spokesperson, the tunnel will close on Wednesday (Dec. 20).
Following the closure, lanes will shift on southbound Louisiana Highway 23 between Engineers Road and Barriere Road, guiding motorists to travel on the newly constructed portion of the Belle Chasse Bridge. Motorists will continue to utilize the existing Belle Chasse Bridge when traveling northbound on LA-23.
Intermittent lane closures in this corridor will occur daily between 8 a.m. to 2 p..m., and nightly between 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. during this transition. However, no traffic changes will occur between Sunday, Dec. 24, and Tuesday, Dec.26 in observance of the Christmas holiday.
Officials said tolling does not begin on the new Belle Chasse Bridge until its completion scheduled for Spring 2024.
In addition to the traffic shift, motorists are advised that there will be a temporary detour of the right southbound turn from Engineers Road onto LA-23. Between Thursday, Dec. 21, and Monday, Jan. 29, motorists wishing to turn right from Engineers Rd. onto LA-23 will need to turn left and use the Burmaster Street U-turn to travel southbound on LA-23.
Road signs will be posted to route traffic through this area.
According to officials, the existing tunnel, which was constructed in 1956, will be sealed and allowed to flood over time.
Once the new bridge is fully open to traffic, the old bridge, also known as the Judge Perez Bridge built in 1968, will be dismantled shortly after.
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