Judge Perez Bridge, Vertical-lift bridge in Belle Chasse, Louisiana.

The Judge Perez Bridge is a vertical-lift bridge spanning the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, carrying two northbound lanes on Louisiana Highway 23. It connects Belle Chasse with Terrytown and allows boats to pass underneath when the structure opens.

Construction began in March 1967 and the bridge opened in September 1968, built to relieve traffic from the Belle Chasse Tunnel. It was named after Leander Perez, a local political boss and segregationist, and formed part of a parish project to four-lane Highway 23 to Venice. The $3.3 million structure was built by Boh Brothers using Plaquemines Parish's Parish Royalty Road Fund, without charge to local taxpayers. It was replaced by a new high-rise bridge that opened on March 17, 2025.

The bridge was named after Leander Perez, a Plaquemines Parish political boss and segregationist. It was built as part of a parish project to four-lane Highway 23 all the way to Venice, and the Plaquemines Gazette reported the $3.3 million structure was paid for from the Parish Royalty Road Fund without charge to local taxpayers.

The lift bridge and the paired Belle Chasse Tunnel were replaced by a new high-rise bridge that opened to traffic on March 17, 2025, so drivers now cross on the fixed span. The old lift span carried only northbound LA 23, with southbound traffic using the tunnel.

The bridge operates in partnership with a tunnel that carries southbound traffic, creating an unusual split transportation system. This divided infrastructure setup is rare for crossing waterways in this area.