Belle Chasse Tunnel
Encyclopedia
The Belle Chasse Tunnel was built starting in March 1954 to accommodate the new branch of the Intracoastal Canal. After nearly two years of construction, the $2,436,000 structure opened in February 1956 with the Canal beginning operations later that year. The politicians in Plaquemines Parish chose to construct a tunnel as opposed to a lift bridge
as to enable continuous flow of traffic. According to engineers and various 1956 issues of the "Plaquemines Gazette," the tunnel is the first fully automatic underwater tunnel in the world as it did not require any operating personnel. The tunnel has ventilation machinery that automatically changed the tunnel's air every two minutes with automatic generators taking over if the ever machinery fails.
Judge Leander Perez
enabled the tunnel's construction by passing a constitutional amendment through the Plaquemines Parish Police Jury. He sold bonds towards construction with the US Corps of Engineers
paying the remainder of the construction fees. When the tunnel opened, it was the first underwater tunnel in Louisiana
. Shortly after, two new tunnels were built in the state: the Harvey Tunnel which once carried traffic from the Westbank Expressay
and the Houma Tunnel.
The tunnel was the primary means of carrying traffic to and from Belle Chasse
and westbank Plaquemines Parish. Since its opening, hazardous cargo is prohibited from travelling through the tunnel, and numerous additional regulations/restrictions have been enforced. Traffic counts soon overwhelmed the tunnel, and in 1967, construction of the Judge Perez Bridge
, a vertical lift bridge, commenced, and that structure opened in 1968 to serve northbound traffic and, whenever the tunnel is closed for maintenance, southbound traffic.
Today, the tunnel is still heavily used by commuters to and from New Orleans and surrounding areas. It sports a solid white line that prohibits passing inside the structure. It also experiences flooding problems fairly often and was one of many structures closed after Hurricane Katrina
. There have been plans for replacing the tunnel and lift bridge with new and improved high-rise structures, but no construction has occurred.
Lift bridge
A vertical-lift bridge or lift bridge is a type of movable bridge in which a span rises vertically while remaining parallel with the deck....
as to enable continuous flow of traffic. According to engineers and various 1956 issues of the "Plaquemines Gazette," the tunnel is the first fully automatic underwater tunnel in the world as it did not require any operating personnel. The tunnel has ventilation machinery that automatically changed the tunnel's air every two minutes with automatic generators taking over if the ever machinery fails.
Judge Leander Perez
Leander Perez
Leander Henry Perez, Sr. , was the Democratic political boss of Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes in southeastern Louisiana during the middle third of the 20th century. Officially, he served as a district judge, later as district attorney, and as president of the Plaquemines Parish Commission...
enabled the tunnel's construction by passing a constitutional amendment through the Plaquemines Parish Police Jury. He sold bonds towards construction with the US Corps of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
paying the remainder of the construction fees. When the tunnel opened, it was the first underwater tunnel in Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. Shortly after, two new tunnels were built in the state: the Harvey Tunnel which once carried traffic from the Westbank Expressay
U.S. Route 90 Business (New Orleans, Louisiana)
U.S. Highway 90 Business is a business route of U.S. Highway 90 in and near New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Unlike a standard business route, it is built to higher standards than the segment of U.S. 90 that it parallels, with over half built to freeway standards and designated Interstate 910...
and the Houma Tunnel.
The tunnel was the primary means of carrying traffic to and from Belle Chasse
Belle Chasse, Louisiana
Belle Chasse is a census-designated place in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, on the West Bank of the Mississippi River. Belle Chasse is part of the Greater New Orleans Metropolitan area. The population was 9,848 at the 2000 census....
and westbank Plaquemines Parish. Since its opening, hazardous cargo is prohibited from travelling through the tunnel, and numerous additional regulations/restrictions have been enforced. Traffic counts soon overwhelmed the tunnel, and in 1967, construction of the Judge Perez Bridge
Judge Perez Bridge
The Judge Perez Bridge is a lift bridge in the US state of Louisiana which carries northbound Louisiana Highway 23 over the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway between Belle Chasse and Terrytown. The bridge is paired with the Belle Chasse Tunnel which carries southbound LA 23...
, a vertical lift bridge, commenced, and that structure opened in 1968 to serve northbound traffic and, whenever the tunnel is closed for maintenance, southbound traffic.
Today, the tunnel is still heavily used by commuters to and from New Orleans and surrounding areas. It sports a solid white line that prohibits passing inside the structure. It also experiences flooding problems fairly often and was one of many structures closed after Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
. There have been plans for replacing the tunnel and lift bridge with new and improved high-rise structures, but no construction has occurred.
See also
- LA-23Louisiana Highway 23Louisiana Highway 23 is a north–south state highway in Louisiana that serves Plaquemines and Jefferson Parishes. It spans 74.02 miles in roughly a southeast/northwest direction. It is known locally as Belle Chasse Highway, Lafayette Street, the West Bank Expressway, and Franklin...
- Judge Perez BridgeJudge Perez BridgeThe Judge Perez Bridge is a lift bridge in the US state of Louisiana which carries northbound Louisiana Highway 23 over the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway between Belle Chasse and Terrytown. The bridge is paired with the Belle Chasse Tunnel which carries southbound LA 23...
- Westbank ExpressayU.S. Route 90 Business (New Orleans, Louisiana)U.S. Highway 90 Business is a business route of U.S. Highway 90 in and near New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Unlike a standard business route, it is built to higher standards than the segment of U.S. 90 that it parallels, with over half built to freeway standards and designated Interstate 910...
- Harvey Tunnel
- Belle ChasseBelle Chasse, LouisianaBelle Chasse is a census-designated place in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, on the West Bank of the Mississippi River. Belle Chasse is part of the Greater New Orleans Metropolitan area. The population was 9,848 at the 2000 census....
- Plaquemines ParishPlaquemines Parish, LouisianaPlaquemines Parish is the parish with the most combined land and water area in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Pointe à la Hache...