Troubled Toll Bridge

Higher tolls may be ahead for the bridge that is the only land route to Grand Isle. Figures released Thursday by the state transportation department show that the Leeville toll bridge is not collecting enough money to meet the terms of a 164 million dollar loan used to build the bridge. The tolls raised 3.4 million dollars in 2010, falling short by 674,000 dollars of what the state needed to fully satisfy the loan agreement it signed in 2005. Now, the state is obligated to hire a consultant to study and suggest ways the bridge can raise more money. Suggestions could include an increase in tolls.