The Belle Chasse tunnel, built in 1956, is no more. Not that it didn't have its issues with leaks so frequent some called it a car wash. Now, the tunnel closed for good as of this morning. Which begs the question what is the future of travel in and out of Plaquemines Parish and the fate of the tunnel and drawbridge?
Keith Hinkley Parish President, spoke about the future of the tunnel and drawbridge now that they have been shut down.
“It’s going to be a lengthy project tearing down the bridge and decommissioning the tunnel.”
According to Abbe Ginn, Public Information Officer with the project, decommissioning of the tunnel includes it being walled of and then letting mother nature have her way.
The Parish President says along with the closure of the tunnel and drawbridge, there could be other changes to the way we enter and leave the parish.
“We are doing a traffic study, taking a look at different ways to come through Belle Chasse and try to disperse the traffic to different areas.”
As 2023 winds down, work on the new bridge will need to continue as the project nears completion.
“The super structure is there all that remains are the up ramps on the north and south sides. They will continue to work and that should be completed at the end of the first quarter of 2024.”
