Belle Chasse Bridge and Tunnel Replacement

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The Belle Chasse Tunnel and Judge Perez Bridge serve the 23,000 residents of Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. The Belle Chasse Highway (LA 23), located about eight miles northwest of New Orleans, is approximately 1.4 miles from LA 3017 to LA 406. The corridor is four lanes with a raised median except at the Perez Bridge and Belle Chasse Tunnel. The movable Perez Bridge was constructed in 1967 and the Belle Chasse Tunnel in 1955. The LA 23 corridor has a current traffic volume in excess of 33,000 vehicles per day and is a primary access point to the residents, businesses, and industries of Plaquemines Parish. The planned replacement will benefit the Belle Chasse Naval Air Station, while providing more efficient commute times in daily activities and hurricane evacuations for motorists. Currently, the tunnel carries southbound traffic under the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, while the bridge carries traffic in the opposite direction. However, the tunnel often leaks, forcing the old bridge to be converted to two-way traffic. The replacement project will provide a new mid-level, fixed-span, tolled bridge carrying traffic in two directions and reducing the delays associated with operations and maintenance of the older infrastructure. In December 2017, the Louisiana Joint Transportation Committee approved the use of a public-private partnership contract to deliver the replacement project. In February 2018, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) issued a Notice of Intent seeking letters of interest from private companies. In June 2018, DOTD shortlisted three teams to submit proposals for the concession, and in May of 2019, DOTD received a proposal from a single bidder. DOTD is considering the single proposal and anticipates reaching a decision on a path forward later in the year.

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