Jefferson reverses Metairie Mardi Gras parades routes

Metairie's Mardi Gras parades will once again roll west-to-east.

The Jefferson Parish Council voted Wednesday to end the east-west route that began five years ago. Parades will now line up at Veterans and Houma, and proceed toward Causeway, coming to an end past Causeway at Veterans and Martin Behrman.

In 2019, the parish experimented with reversing the route for non-Fat Tuesday parades, starting on Bonnabel and coming to an end in the parking lot at Clearview Center.

That led to complaints from neighbors on the Bonnabel end about trash left over from loading the floats, and high school marching band members gathering on their lawns.

The treks up and down Severn and Bonnabel remain as part of the route.

The parish will also require riders on floats with railings less than 48 inches tall to wear safety harnesses.