DOTD prepared to respond to winter weather, icy road conditions
Friday, January 02, 2015 at 9:17:02 AM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SHREVEPORT, La. – Today, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development announced that its staff is ready to tackle adverse weather after current weather forecasts indicated a slight chance for icy road conditions throughout the area.

DOTD advises motoists to take the following precautions during wintry weather conditions:
  • Look out for DOTD work vehicles applying salt to area bridges and overpasses.
  • Exercise caution when traveling on roadways during hazardous weather conditions and stay off the roads whenever possible.
  • If you have to drive, do it slowly, carefully and avoid driving while distracted.
  • Allow for extra driving time, reduce speeds when visibility is low, and make sure there is plenty of room between vehicles.
  • Be aware of black ice – a thin, transparent layer of ice accumulation that can be visually be hard to detect on bridges, overpasses, off-ramps and in shady spots.
  • Buckle up and refrain from drinking and driving.
DOTD’s emergency personnel will continue to monitor upcoming weather situations and will scout the area for safety on the roadways. Crews will be mobilized as needed in the event an area is threatened by severe weather conditions. In addition, DOTD crews will apply salt to any affected bridges and roadways, remove fallen trees from the roadway and close roads as needed.

Road status updates are available from DOTD in a variety of ways. Motorists can receive automatic and up-to-date information on local projects, lane and road closures, and other DOTD activity by signing up for MyDOTD. Travelers can also find information regarding road closures by visiting the 511 Traveler Information website at www.511la.org or by dialing 511 from their telephone and saying the route or region about which they are seeking information. Additionally, real-time traffic and road condition updates are also available at DOTD’s “Way to Geaux” smartphone application. Information regarding road closures is also available by contacting DOTD’s Customer Service Center at 1-877-4LA-DOTD (1-877-452-3683). Business hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Customer Service Center will be closed for the New Year’s holiday on Thursday, Jan. 1 and Friday, Jan. 2.