Closure scheduled from September 21 through September 24
NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District, in coordination with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LaDOTD) and Plaquemines Parish Government to temporarily close the Belle Chasse Tunnel from September 21 through September 24, 2012 to complete the installation of roller gates at the entrance and exit of the tunnel. This work is part of the Greater New Orleans Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System, which reduces the risk associated with a storm surge event that has a one percent chance of occurring in any given year, or a 100-year storm surge.
“The tunnel will be closed at 7:00 p.m. on Friday evening and then re-open at 5:00 a.m. on Monday to make final adjustments, test overhead roller gates and finish concrete work on the storage structure,” said Ted Carr, project manager. “This work was not completed during the previous closure because the tunnel was re-opened early to provide unrestricted traffic flow prior to Hurricane Isaac.”
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 closure, a single lane of traffic in each direction (north and south) will be re-routed onto the Belle Chasse Bridge. The weekend re-routing 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. 12-055