HAZARDOUS ROADWAY ADVISORY 01/16/18
Tuesday, January 16, 2018 at 8:17:52 PM
Contact: Bambi Hall
504-484-0210/bambi.hall@la.gov
Wintry mix expected in the greater New Orleans area overnight; freezing temperatures tomorrow
NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development District 02 Office in New Orleans advises that forecasted weather conditions are expected to result in wintry mix accumulating on some state roads and bridges in the area and through Houma, as well as severe wind chill and freezing temperatures.
DOTD will be monitoring priority routes for ice, and maintenance forces will be on standby to apply salt over affected bridges, remove fallen trees from the roadway and close routes as needed.
The priority routes in the New Orleans area are U.S. 61 and U.S. 90, while La. 182 is the priority route through Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes. The roadways/bridges that will be serviced in District 02’s area, which covers Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, and Terrebonne parishes, include:
- U.S. 90B Crescent City Connection, from the Tchoupitoulas and General De Gaulle entrance/exit ramps
- U.S. 90 Danziger Bridge
- U.S. 90 New Orleans to Slidell (Rigolets and Chef Pass Bridges)
- U.S. 90 Huey P. Long Bridge (La. 18 to La. 48)
- U.S. 90 Overpass in St. Charles
- U.S. 90 Des Allemands Bridge
- U.S. 11 Bridge New Orleans to Slidell
- I-510/ La. 47 Mississippi River Gulf Outlet
- Clearview Overpass over I-10
- U.S. 61 Laplace to New Orleans (Spillway Bridge)
- U.S. 61 Tulane/Carrollton Overpass
- U.S. 61 Overpass near Airport
- La. 3134 Lafitte-Larose Bridge
- La. 407 Intracoastal Waterway Bridge
- La. 23 Judge Perez Bridge
- La. 23 Belle Chasse Tunnel
- La. 39 Judge Seeber (Claiborne Ave.) Bridge
- La. 46 St. Claude Bridge
- I-310 Luling Bridge (La. 18 to La. 48)
In Houma
- La. 1 West Larose Bridge
- La. 1 Leeville south to Grand Isle; North End to South Connector; Caminada Bay Bridge
- La. 182 Slab Span Bridges MP 185-219
- La. 315 Bayou Dularge Bridge
- La. 3040 (Houma Tunnel)
- La. 55 Humble Canal Bridge
- La. 652 Overpass
- La. 653 Overpass
- La. 661 Houma Navigation Canal Bridge
Hard freeze conditions are expected on Wednesday night and freezing conditions could occur again on Thursday night. DOTD will do everything possible to keep Louisiana’s highways and the interstate system open in the event of winter precipitation, but must prioritize maintaining and re-opening roadways based on traffic volumes.
DOTD urges motorists to use extra caution when traveling on roadways during hazardous weather conditions and stay off the roads whenever possible. Motorists should drive slowly and carefully, and avoid driving while distracted. Always allow for extra driving time, reduce speeds when visibility is low, and make sure there is plenty of room between vehicles. Also, look out for black ice - a thin, transparent layer of ice accumulation that can be visually hard to detect on bridges, overpasses, off-ramps and in shady spots. As always, DOTD reminds motorists to buckle up and refrain from drinking and driving.
Motorists can access the latest updates on real-time traffic and road conditions using the 511 Traveler Information System by dialing 511 from their telephone and saying the route or region on which they are seeking information. Out-of-state travelers can call 1-888-ROAD-511 (1-888-762-3511). Travelers can also access this information by visiting the 511 Traveler Information Web site at www.511la.org. Additionally, real-time around-the-clock New Orleans traffic updates can be accessed via Twitter @NOLA_Traffic and @Houma_Traffic.
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www.dotd.la.gov