Residents of Plaquemines Parish will pay $839,000,000 over 30-years to pay for a new bridge to replace the outdated bridge and tunnel combination.
According to the Times-Picayune/New Orleans Advocate the head of the DOTD says when finished in 2024 drivers will start off paying a 25-cent toll, over 30-years the toll will raise to 60-cents.
Despite calls from Plaquemines Parish residents to ditch the project and keep the old bridge and tunnel, building the new Belle Chasse Bridge is seen as a first-time public-private partnership with important ramifications.
Supporters say if the project is turned back, it will doom financing of the proposed Mississippi River in Baton Rouge.
The project calls for building a new four lane highrise bridge to fly over the Intracoastal Waterway replacing the current 1950's era tunnel and 1960's era drawbridge.
Funding and construction will be done by the Canadian firm Plenary which will receive a longtime revenue stream in exchange. The company will also maintain the span.
Residents in lower Plaquemines Parish say tolls will adversely effect many of their lower income residents. Meanwhile, residents of Belle Chasse say they could paying multiple tolls as they routinely cross the Intracoastal many times during the day.
33,000 drivers a day cross the Intracoastal Waterway each day.
The federal government has already kicked in $45,000,000 for the project. If the toll bridge is rejected, the money will likely have to be returned.