BATON ROUGE, La. – The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) today advised drivers of upcoming work schedules for interstate and major road projects throughout Louisiana for Memorial Day weekend (Saturday, May 24 through Monday, May 26).

DOTD Secretary William D. Ankner, Ph.D. urged drivers to use extra caution when traveling on the roadways during the upcoming holiday weekend, especially at railroad crossings.

Below is the regional listing of work schedules and road closures for interstate construction and major road projects.

Southeast Louisiana 
In the New Orleans area, all lanes of I-10, I-310, I-510 and I-610 will remain open during the holiday weekend.

In the Slidell area, all lanes of I-12 and I-59 will remain open.

Also in the Slidell area, construction continues on I-10 at its intersection with U.S. 190 (Fremeaux interchange). Drivers may experience delays because of an eastbound lane closure and a westbound lane closure at the Fremeaux interchange. Two lanes will remain open to traffic in each direction.

In the Hammond area and surrounding parishes, all lanes of I-10, I-12 and I-55 will remain open.

In the Baton Rouge area, all lanes of I-10 and I-12 will remain open.

In East Baton Rouge Parish, there will be no construction on La. 427 (Perkins Road) between Essen Lane and Siegen Lane for the holiday weekend.

In Pointe Coupee Parish, motorists may experience daytime delays due to intermittent lane closures on La. 1 between New Roads and Morganza on Monday, May 26.

Southwest Louisiana 
In the Lafayette area, all lanes of I-10 and I-49 will remain open to traffic.

In Acadia Parish, La. 13 north of Crowley is closed to traffic due to construction on the Bayou Plaquemine Bridge.  Traffic will be detoured via La. 1121 to the I-10 North Frontage Road to La. 13.

In St. Landry Parish, U.S. 190 over U.S. 71 is reduced from four lanes to two lanes as construction continues on the Atchafalaya River Bridge. 

In the Lake Charles area, all lanes of I-10 and I-210 will remain open to traffic.

Central Louisiana
In the Alexandria area, all lanes of I-49 will remain open to traffic.

In Avoyelles Parish, La. 114 at the Bayou Des Glaises Diversion Canal is closed to traffic. Drivers will be detoured via La. 114, La. 1186 and La. 1.

Also in Avoyelles Parish, La. 29 is closed to traffic from La. 106 to U.S. 71.  Drivers will be detoured via I-49 and La. 115.

Northeast Louisiana 
In Caldwell Parish, construction continues on sections of U.S. 165 through the towns of Grayson and Columbia. Drivers may experience some minor delays and short detours because of construction activity in this area. 

Also in Caldwell Parish, construction continues on La. 126 west of U.S. 165. Traffic will be detoured via La.127 or La. 4.

In Franklin and Tensas parishes, construction continues on the Tensas River Bridge on La. 4 at the Tensas and Franklin parish line.  No delays are expected.

In Franklin Parish, construction continues on the northbound and southbound lanes of U.S. 425 between Winnsboro and Baskin.  No delays are expected.

Also in Franklin Parish, La. 618 will be closed due to the replacement of the Pine Flat Bridge.  Traffic will be detoured via La. 869.

In Catahoula and Concordia parishes, construction continues on U.S. 84 in the Jonesville area. Drivers may experience minor delays because of construction activity in this area.

In the Monroe area, all lanes of I-20 will remain open.

Also in the Monroe area, construction continues on the Lea Joyner/Louisville Avenue Bridge on U.S. 80. No delays are expected.

In addition, the La. 546/Cheniere-Drew Overpass (Exit 108) is closed, but the on and off ramps to I-20 remain open.  Please take alternate routes as posted.

In Richland Parish, U.S. 425 north of U.S. 80 and south of I-20 is under construction.  No delays are expected at either location.

In Lincoln Parish, the I-20 westbound exit ramp (Exit 85) is closed.

Northwest Louisiana 
In the Shreveport-Bossier City area and surrounding parishes, all lanes of I-49 and I-220 will remain open.

In Bossier Parish, construction continues on I-20.  Drivers may experience delays due to eastbound and westbound lane closures between mile marker 29 and mile marker 33.

Also, motorists should be advised that the eastbound I-20 Welcome Center near the Texas state line is closed for reconstruction.
 
Oversize/overweight vehicle movement
Secretary Ankner announced today that all oversize and overweight vehicle movement on all state highways will be prohibited Monday, May 26, for the Memorial Day holiday.

Ankner said the decision was made in conjunction with the Louisiana Department of Public Safety’s Office of State Police in order to provide maximum safety for motorists traveling on state highways during the holiday.

In addition, both spans of the I-10 “twin-span” bridge between Slidell and New Orleans are closed to all oversize and overweight permit loads until further notice. Because the temporary panels used to repair the westbound span are taking a pounding from speeders, especially overweight and speeding trucks, state troopers and Weights and Standard officers assigned to the Louisiana State Police Transportation Environmental Safety Section (TESS) have stepped up traffic enforcement.

The weight limit for 18-wheelers traveling westbound is 70,000 pounds. Loads weighing more than 70,000 pounds but less than 90,000 pounds can use the Causeway Bridge as an alternate route. All other loads can use I-55. The weight limit eastbound is 80,000 pounds.

DOTD’s Weights and Standards and Truck Permit Office will be closed Monday, May 26. Please call 1-800-654-1433 for more information on permits.

Further information
Travelers can access up-to-date information about weather-related road conditions, construction activities and other critical incidents by dialing 511 from their telephone. The voice-activated 511 Traveler Information System is available to most wireless and landline telephone users. Travelers can also access this information by visiting the 511 Traveler Information System Web site at www.511la.org.

More detailed information on the status of DOTD construction projects and road closures may be obtained via the Traveler Information link from DOTD’s Web site, www.dotd.la.gov.

Traffic cameras for the Baton Rouge, Denham Springs, Walker, Lafayette, Lake Charles, LaPlace and New Orleans areas also may be viewed from that site. 

In addition, DOTD’s Customer Service Center representatives can answer questions regarding road closures not listed above or any other DOTD-related questions. Please call (225) 379-1232 or 1-877-4LADOTD (1-877-452-3683) with questions. The center’s normal business hours are 7 a.m.- 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.  The Customer Service Center will be closed Monday, May 26.

Finally, drivers are encouraged to tune in to local radio stations for current traffic and accident information prior to traveling.

Drivers who notice road hazards, such as potholes or debris in the road, are urged to call DOTD’s statewide, toll-free Highway Safety Hot Line at 1-800-259-HWAY (4929). The automated system operates 24 hours a day and routes callers to the appropriate field office to report hazardous conditions.