Parish President Billy Nungesser was the guest speaker at PABI’s first luncheon of 2013. From left are PABI Executive Director Bob Thomas, Immediate Past Chair Reid McLellan, Nungesser, and 2013 PABI Chairman Chad Breland.

“We should be able to get the Pointe-a-la-Hache ferry landing open to light traffic within 1 to 2 weeks,” said Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser during his January 23 State of the Parish Address at Bayou Barriere Golf Club.

Speaking to the charges from residents and councilmen at the January 10 PPC meeting that the ferry closure was a calculated attempt to keep the Pointe-ala-Hache courthouse from being rebuilt, Nungesser said that immediately after receiving notification from the state that the landing must be closed, he got his contracting
firm working on a temporary solution.

“The courthouse has been voted on by the people, and I will build it where it needs to go, to a reasonable size.”

Additionally, Nungesser stated that for the past year, the council has been given every single report done on the conditions of the ferry landings.

“My feelings after meeting with the Corps, is it is impossible to get that ferry landing back where it needs to be for having truck traffic— the pilings and berm has been eaten away,” said Nungesser. “The Corps has told me they don’t recommend us keeping that ferry landing there. I’ve relayed that to the council for the past year.”