NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) announced today multiple closures at the Causeway Interchange Project. On Sunday, August 21 and Sunday, August 28, from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., the I-10 west bound will be closed at Causeway Boulevard for the contractor to install steel girders for the new I-10 east bound on ramp.

All I-10 west bound traffic will be forced to exit at Causeway onto two lanes. I-10 west bound traffic will use the left lane to return to I-10 west, via the collector road. The right lane leads to Veterans and North Causeway Boulevards. 

The I-10 west bound on-ramp at Bonnabel Boulevard will also be closed. Veterans and Bonnabel traffic should detour west onto Veterans and enter I-10 West at the temporary Severn Avenue entrance or at Clearview Parkway.

All Causeway Boulevard on and off ramps will remain open.

The work being done is part of Phase 2 of the Causeway Interchange Project, costing $51 million. Once complete, the new I-10 East on-ramp, from Southbound Causeway, will span over Veterans, Causeway and I-10 West to link to I-10 East. Phase 2 began in November 2009 and will be complete in summer 2012.

Heavy delays are expected and drivers are strongly encouraged to use alternate routes: 

·         I-610 West: Detour to I-10 East, to US-61 North (Airline Drive), to Clearview North, to I-10 West.

·         I-10 West:  Detour to US-61 North (Airline Drive), to Clearview North, to I-10 West.

Project milestones to date include south bound Causeway to I-10 West, which will span over Veterans and Causeway when complete – foundations and girders complete. Construction of the concrete bridge deck near complete. The new ground level on-ramp from Veterans to I-10 West is partially open to traffic. The remaining portion will be completed to Veterans following completion of the overhead bridge work. The new I-10 East on ramp from Veterans, which will span over I-10 when complete – remaining work includes the crossing over I-10, which will begin in the fall of 2011. The new South Causeway to I-10 East on ramp, which will span over Causeway and join I-10 East in the median – foundations, columns and concrete caps complete. Girder installation and bridge decks underway proceeding south and currently reaching I-10. 

As always, DOTD asks that motorists remain patient and to please drive with caution through the construction site and be on the lookout for work crews and their equipment.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) is committed to delivering transportation and public works systems that enhance the quality of life. In addition to more than 16,600 miles of roadway, including over 890 miles of interstate, DOTD supports the development of the state’s aviation, marine and rail infrastructures. Through this work, we are able to facilitate economic development, create job opportunities, improve vital evacuation routes, and make critical freight corridors safer and more efficient.

For more information, please visit www.dotd.la.gov, email dotdcs@la.gov, or call DOTD’s Customer Service Center at (225) 379-1232 or 1-877-4LADOTD (1-877-452-3683). Business hours are 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Motorists can access up-to-date travel information by dialing 511 or by visiting www.511la.org. Out of-state travelers can call 1-888-ROAD-511 (1-888-762-3511)