Gazette Coverage of the 1956 Opening of the Belle Tunnel which cost $2,436,000 or the equivalent of $28,000,000 today.
Plaquemines Parish Sheriff Jerry Turlich, left, and Parish President Keith Hinkley took a ceremonial last ride through the Belle Chasse Tunnel before it permanently closed and paused for a photo on the subsequent first ride across the new Belle Chasse Bridge when the transition took place on December 20.
The partial opening of the bridge and closure of the tunnel makes way for the remaining approaches of the bridge to be constructed for a scheduled Spring, 2024, opening of the remaining two lanes. Work will continue into 2025 to seal off the tunnel approaches allowing it to fill with water, demolition of the bridge and construction of a park under the north side of the bridge. Photo by Amber Prattini Wallo
_e old Belle Chasse Tunnel has been permanently closed as the southbound lanes of LA Hwy 23 as two lanes one the new Belle Chasse Toll Bridge ocially opened to trac on Wednesday, December 20.
Initially constructed and opened all the way back in 1956—when Plaquemines Parish was mly within the political grip of Leander Perez—the Belle Chasse tunnel has served as the primary entra...
