Corps to temporarily close Belle Chasse Tunnel

Closure scheduled from April 26 through April 29

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 will temporarily close the Belle Chasse Tunnel April 26 through April 29 to test the new overhead roller gates and complete remaining tunnel work. 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 temporarily closed beginning at 7:00 p.m. on Friday evening and re-opening Monday morning at 5:00 a.m. to allow workers to install pumps which will remove water from the tunnel and make final adjustments to the new overhead roller gates before testing,” said Ted Carr, project manager. “The gates will be tested on Saturday in conjunction with the remaining tunnel work.” 

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.