Temporary closures now scheduled for each weekend from Sept.23 through Nov. 21
NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District, is constructing new overhead roller gates at the ingress and egress of the Belle Chasse Tunnel as part of the Greater New Orleans Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System. To ensure the safety of construction workers building the risk reduction features, the Corps, in conjunction with Plaquemines Parish Government and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development will be temporarily closing the Belle Chasse Tunnel each weekend beginning Sept. 23 and ending Nov. 21. Please note this schedule has shifted and is subject to change if construction or weather delays occur.
"To allow for the safe construction of the overhead roller gates the tunnel will be temporarily closed on weekends beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday and re-opening Monday morning at 5 a.m. for nine consecutive weekends," said Ted Carr, Project Manager.
The Belle Chasse Tunnel is part of Louisiana State Hwy 23 and typically allows two lanes of southbound traffic to pass beneath the Intracoastal Waterway in Plaquemines Parish. During the temporary weekend tunnel closures, a single lane of traffic in each direction (north and south) will be re-routed onto the Belle Chasse Bridge. The weekend re-routings will be similar to the LaDOTD’s monthly maintenance closures of the tunnel. In accordance with LaDOTD guidance, signage near the tunnel will remind drivers of the re-routing.
As construction of the Greater New Orleans Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System continues, residents and commuters are urged to use caution near active construction sites. If at any time there are questions about construction of the system, call the Corps’ toll free Construction Hotline at 877-427-0345.
Release no. 11-020