Belle Chasse Bridge P3 Tolls Suspended in Louisiana

The state of Louisiana suspended tolls on the Belle Chasse Bridge in October, just months after tolling operations on the new bridge began. Governor Jeff Landry posted a video on facebook on October 2nd announcing the suspension. In the video, he referring to “…the terrible deal that the Jon Bel Edwards administration placed on the citizens of Plaquemines Parish for that toll bridge.”

The governor also said that “…we’re gonna get a better deal, a better deal for Plaquemines, a better deal for Louisiana, and we’re gonna keep our infrastructure rolling.”

The Louisiana Department of Transportation & Development (DOTD) sent the concessionaire for the Belle Chasse Bridge P3 a letter claiming four different violations of the project’s comprehensive agreement, and ordering the concessionaire to suspend tolls on the bridge until the deficiencies have been cured.

Leading up to the letter and toll suspension, however, was a steadily increasing wave of local toll complaints and political pushback ever since the new bridge started charging them – the Belle Chasse Bridge just opened to traffic in March and tolling operations started in May. After tolls were suspended in October, a billboard went up nearby reading “Thank You Gov Jeff Landry for suspending the Unfair Belle Chasse Tolls!”

Unlock The Full Article

Login to unlock

Unlock this article

Not Subscriber? Sign-Up