Harvey Tunnel Project: One side of tunnel complete, project enters final phase
Monday, August 18, 2025 at 6:58:56 AM
New Orleans – The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) announces that the rehabilitated Harvey Tunnel in the westbound direction reopened on Friday. This marks the first time the westbound lanes have been permanently open to vehicles since 2022.
The eastbound tunnel, currently undergoing the same upgrades during reconditioning, is set to reopen in January 2026.
The $54 million rehabilitation project provides major upgrades that establish it as a dependable corridor for the Westbank community for years ahead. Along with aesthetic enhancements, the renovated tunnel features new roadway approaches, improved driving surfaces, updated LED lighting systems, and a cutting-edge fire and smoke detection system.
Upgrades also include sealant work to prevent floodwaters from entering the roadway and new pump designs to drain water from inside the tunnel.
DOTD has worked with C.E.C., the lead project contractor, and local and state officials throughout the process to reduce public inconvenience, often keeping one side of the tunnel open to traffic while the other is closed.
The reopening of the eastbound tunnel, scheduled for January 2026, will be the first time the entire tunnel has been rehabilitated since its opening in 1957, when it was built over four years for $5 million.
The Harvey Tunnel Rehabilitation Project is part of the $321 million that DOTD has invested in Jefferson Parish infrastructure over the past five years.
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