New Orleans, LA – The Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) announces that Motorist Assistance Patrol (MAP) tow service trucks will now be stationed on the Crescent City Connection Bridge (CCC) to provide a quick response to traffic incidents during weekday peak travel times, starting January 1, 2013.

“This is another tool to aid the current traffic incident management services provided for the Crescent City Connection Bridges,” said DOTD Assistant Secretary Rhett Desselle. “A dedicated tow service truck will speed the removal of disabled vehicles from the bridge during peak hours.”

A MAP tow service truck will operate six hours per day, weekdays during morning and afternoon peak travel times, typically 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. To ensure a quick response to incidents, a tow truck will be stationed at a pre-defined location near the bridge and will bring the disabled vehicle to a staging area where a towing service can take the vehicle for further handling.

More than 156,000 vehicles traverse the CCC daily, making it the fifth busiest bridge in the nation with more than 33 million riders annually. DOTD operates two other MAP tow services: one for the 1-10 Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge and one for the I-10 High Rise Bridge in New Orleans East. Standard services, including changing a flat tire or jump starting a vehicle, are available in the New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport and Lake Charles regions. MAP is a free service provided by DOTD.

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 [email protected], 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.

-30-

www.dotd.la.gov