The Belle Chasse tunnel, long plagued by leaks, is set to close permanently this week, state highway officials announced today.
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development says the traffic shift from the tunnel to the new bridge will occur Wednesday, Dec. 20.
Lanes on south-bound LA Hwy. 23 will shift to the newly-constructed Belle Chasse bridge over the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. North-bound motorists will use the existing Belle Chasse bridge.
Tolls on the new Belle Chasse bridge will not begin until the project is complete, set for the spring of 2024.
There will be intermittent lane closures in the area between the hours of 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., and 7 p.m. and 5 a.m., while work in the area continues. But there will be no lane closures between Dec. 24 and Dec. 26 in observance of Christmas.





