Plaquemines Parish residents frustrated  new Belle Chasse Bridge tolling system

BELLE CHASSE, La. (WGNO) — The ongoing saga involving the new Belle Chasse Bridge continues, and now residents claim they are being overcharged.

“They’re being charged $1.16 when they should be charged $0.26, which is a 90% overcharge on each trip across the bridge,” said Plaquemines Parish resident Wil Hildebrand.

Hildebrand says just to sign up, you have to load the GeauxPass with at least $30. If he hadn’t checked his bank statements, the overcharging would have continued.

“On the online applications, they don’t ask for additional information like registration. Only after you look at your account and see that. So there are a lot of people out there that are being overcharged right now that don’t even know it,” said Hildebrand.

For two days, residents have had the opportunity to attend the Belle Chasse Bridge replacement project and GeauxPass event to get their questions answered.

Project spokesperson Angi Noote says charges were a concern they wanted to address.

“If they submitted those and thought that those were already in the system, perhaps if there was any kind of issue, that’s what we’re here to take care of, to make sure that what they needed to have attached to their account, those documents are attached to their account,” said Noote.

While some say the process went smoothly, others, like Gail Edwards, are calling for a refund or account credit.

“Anyone who overcharges you, you bring it to attention and show the proof, and you get your money back. After asking to speak to a supervisor, I was told that, you know, it would be handled and I would get my reimbursement,” said Edwards.

“All we wanted was a GeuxPass, but we didn’t have one. They explained everything to us in detail. We, we got all the information with this,” said James Rigsby.

Officials with the Belle Chasse Bridge and Tunnel Project say refunds will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

Meanwhile, GeauxPass says anyone with questions on the toll collection will need to send an email or call the GeauxPass location in Golden Meadow.

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