Here's a report I got this morning from someone who went down there yesterday. Keep in mind that yesterday was a holiday.

When he got there early in the am, there was no line, but there was a police car there and they were waving people through with no charge. He was told the toll machine was not working.

On his way back around mid-day, there was a folding table set up with three workers. They were manually collecting toll fees and he said the line was really long.

Keep in mind that the reported average transaction time (when the toll machine is working properly) has been about one minute. That means even a short line of just 15 cars will mean a 15 minute wait to clear the toll booth.

They really need to do something soon to get this worked out.

1 minute a vehicle! That is ridiculous!

hadn't been back to the island since they put the machine on the birdge, i have a gueax pass, but dont want a couple people of crying they have to pee while stuck in line for 45 mins. besides can't exactly go behind a tree on that road.

...is it really worth it ???...driving 150-250 miles just to rub elbows in a crowd hype ???...paying 3x more than elsewhere ???...I'll take Lafitte,Shell Beach,Delacroix,Hopedale,Myrtle Grove, Buras, Venice and the WagonWheel anyday !!!...the 'Overated Island' just ain't what it used to be !!! cheers

...it's already been leaked (behind closed doors) that quite a few admitted off record they defeating themselves and the island with their down-spiral toll tax coupled w/below par civic management...all this happened with the 'click' that's not too closely 'knit'...sounds like a canary runn'n w/'da vultures ???...cheers ???

Hey rabbit ! I may not be able to understand your philosophy every go round but I'm reading you loud and clear on that one ! One of the last times we went down there was the day the guy died that owned Elmer's island . That was the day it closed down for so many years . But don't miss the price gouging at all in and around grand isle . Its hard to beat the Biloxi marsh , hopedale , and delacroix . Not to mention its half the distance .

i don't know, why the mayor of grand isle and all the big oil companies and loop, ain't all over the state about this toll crap???? the same thing will happen to grand isle, that happened to leeville, when they bypassed leeville with the bridge!!! i remember when the sunshine bridge had toll booths! all you had to do was, if you went across a lot, just go to the building and buy a book or books of toll tickets! then, when you passed, all u had to do is, just slow roll thru the toll booth with your ticket in your hand and the person would grab it and be on your way, about 3 seconds!!! but, that system, even though it worked great back then, wouldn't work today??? because, some politicians brother-in-law, wouldn't be able to make millions, selling this modern technology(that don't even work most of the time and they don't even care if it worked or not) to the state! is this state stupid or is the truth, is it actually us, that puts up with crap??? now, when the cop flags you thru, is the toll free or does the million dollar cameras, take the picture and u will get a fine in the mail???? i bet u will get a fine in the mail??? i also agree with the admiral!!!!

Was dreading to get to the toll booth at 8:30am saturday, but when we drove up, there was only about five vehicles and moving slow. When we got to the machine there was about five workers there, a couple of them were working on the machine and a couple were collecting tolls. Asked if I could get a receipt and was told the machine is not working. On the way back home today the machine was wrapped with a green tarp with a couple of workers collecting tolls and ther was not much of a line to pay.

watch for the ticket in the mail, guaranteed!!!!

I will not be going down anytime soon. Don't need the hassle or the expense.

Do what I do...launch in Myrtle Grove and run to Grand isle...for the time I hear it takes two wait in line, I'm there already

don't blame you at all!!! and how many other people feel the same way as you??? grand isle better do something, unless, won't say?????????????????

you rite, mite be quicker, who knows, sad, sad, sad!!!!

Fished GI for 20 years, and I miss it. Six years ago, I finally got tired of the expense and the Florida-style hotel costs (without the Florida beaches or amenities), the Golden Meadow speed trap, and the loss of fishing rights in several marsh areas. The debacle with the toll bridge doesn't provide any incentive to go back, that's for sure.

It seems others feel the same way here. Many other East and West Bank marinas are laughing all the way to the bank, and especially the much closer Hopedale and Delacroix.

went yesterday(Sunday). Blazed right through. The machine was wrapped up and 2 workers were taking the cash ($2.50 for my truck). Got 2 lanes. The one to the left was tags. The one to the right was cash.

Toll

Help is there!

Hey white boots, are they giving receipts when you pay cash? How does the camera system know if you paid or you have been flagged through?

Asked for a receipt saturday morning and did not get one and we will see how that turns out in a couple of weeks. Maybe I should have taken a picture of me handing money over to them. Sure was a bunch of cash being handed over with no accountability.

Took the family down there last year for a ride and quick crabbing trip. The machine was broken in one store I stopped at and finally found one that worked on the way home. A few weeks later got a ticket in the mail because I put the space between the letters and numbers (Like it was put on the plate). Did save my receipt, so called and got them to remove it in the system (or at least I hope). I'm done with going down there, it was bad enough before, but I hear it's worse now. Shame, I have a lot of good memories of going down there over the years. Bet this is what happened to Atlantis right before it dissappered, they added a toll booth to the main land!!!

Can anyone say... Cocodrie!

Mike makes a good point, there is Cocodrie and other places. In years past, we use to get to the Four Bayou area from Port Sulphur. There was Hi Ridge and Happy Jack. Only Happy Jack launch is still operating, though. Not a bad run and there is good fishing in the Grand Ecaille area. If you're going to GI to fish the areas to the east, then that would be an alternative. Hope there is a 'warm body' in a toll booth before the week of the Tarpon Rodeo. Good luck!

Poppincork- No they didn't give me a receipt. The machine was wrapped up in plastic. There were 2 employees taking money. They didn't give me a receipt. They had a pile of cash in a green bucket.

I was in Leeville yesterday morning at 6 a.m. to fish. I passed by the GI xpressway and there was about 10 to 12 vehicles in line at the toll machine. What's the plans by DOTD;is this now standard operating procedure? This was a Thurs. morning!! What happens on Friday afternoon??

i agree with drew-b, just bring a heck of a lot more money!!!

...are they still steal'n out the parked boats...(we all have occasional memory problems) ???...cheers ???

Admiral, that seems to have past. nobody around got hit like we did last year. they may have got them or if locals were told that every one was getting pissed & needed to stop.

CC,
It is still going on just like last year and the last 3 or 4 years.
Someone reported having rods and reels and tackle stolen last weekend.
I think that some of us that read the outdoor sites have gotten smarter and have stopped leaving our stuff out where it can be stolen and the ones that are still getting hit don't post here.
There is a very easy way to catch the thieves. But until It starts affecting the bottom line $$$ on the island nothing will be done.