New Belle Chasse Bridge fully opens to public

PLAQUEMINES PARISH, La. (WGNO) — It’s back and better than ever. The Belle Chasse Bridge has fully opened to traffic after almost five years of construction.

The bridge features four lanes with two running in each direction and is 73 feet tall, meaning it is now tall enough for boats to pass under it without having to lift.

“Man, that was so aggravating. It’s going to be so nice. Traffic is going to flow now,” Plaquemines Parish resident Matt Korach said.

Construction was originally supposed to be completed back in April of 2024.

After finding too much ground settlement or the natural sinking of the soil, they had to shift gears.

“We did summer mediation and that entailed taking out the approach ramps, replacing them with a lighter fill material inside and then making sure everything was up to speck which it is now performing as engineered as designed,” project public information officer Abbe Ginn said.

One new feature of the bridge is the tolling system, which will collect from each side of the bridge with an electronic device that does not require vehicles to stop.

“It’s an actual transponder sticker that goes on your rearview mirror and when you sign up to have an account with GeauxPass, when you cross the bridge into Belle Chasse, that’s what the cameras and lights will read. If you choose not to get a GeauxPass, that’s your prerogative, it will read your license plate and bill you in the mail whatever toll rate is appropriate for your vehicle,” Ginn said.

While the idea may be innovative and help speed up traffic, some residents are a little disappointed with the idea of having to pay to use the bridge.

“As a resident of the parish, I feel like I’m being penalized for living here. I have family that when they come and go, they’re going to be taking woodland highway because for them not being a resident here is going to cost them a lot to come and visit,” Plaquemines Parish resident Toni Marr said.

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