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 Christmas weekend (Wednesday, Dec. 24 through Sunday, Dec. 28) and for New Year’s weekend (Wednesday, Dec. 31 through Sunday, Jan. 4).

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.

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

In the Slidell area, all lanes of I-10, I-12 and I-59 will remain open.

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

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

Construction on I-10 between Baton Rouge and New Orleans will cease from Wednesday, Dec. 24 to Sunday, Jan. 4. Construction, including possible lane closures will resume on Monday, Jan. 5.

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

In Acadia Parish, La. 13 north of Crowley from La. 100 to La. 1121 is closed to traffic due to construction on the Bayou Plaquemine Bridge. Traffic will be detoured via La. 1121, I-10 North Frontage Road and La. 13.

Also in Acadia Parish, La. 13 southbound is closed from Court Circle to 4th Street in downtown Crowley. Traffic will be detoured via La. 1111 and U.S. 90.

In St. Landry Parish, U.S. 190 over U.S. 71 is reduced from four lanes to two-lane, two-way traffic onto the eastbound roadway since the westbound bridge has been removed.

Also in St. Landry Parish, La. 35 south of Lawtell is closed approximately two miles south of U.S. 190 and approximately seven miles south of U.S. 190. Traffic will be detoured via La. 752, La. 751 and La. 358.

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

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 La. 1176. Drivers will be detoured via I-49 and La. 115.

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 the construction activity in this area.

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 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.

Also in Catahoula Parish, construction continues on La. 8 two miles east of Harrisonburg. The road is open to two lanes with a 30 mph speed limit. One travel lane is unfinished surface. Please proceed through this area with caution.

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

In the Shreveport-Bossier City Area and surrounding parishes, all lanes of I-49, I-20 and I-220 will remain open.

Drivers should be advised that the eastbound I-20 Welcome Center near the Texas state line is closed for reconstruction.

Secretary Ankner announced today that all oversize and overweight vehicle movement on all state highways will be prohibited Thursday and Friday, Dec. 25-26, for the Christmas holiday and Thursday and Friday, Jan.1- 2, for the New Year’s 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 these holidays.

DOTD’s Weights and Standards and Truck Permit Office will be closed Thursday and Friday, Dec. 25-26, and Thursday and Friday, Jan 1-2. Permits effective for Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 27-28, must be called in before 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 24. Permits effective for Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 3-4, must be called in before 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 31.

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 "twin-span" bridge 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.

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. Out-of-state travelers can access the system by calling 1-888-ROAD-511 (1-888-762-3511).

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 about 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 Thursday, Dec. 25, and Friday, Dec. 26, for the Christmas holiday and on Thursday, Jan. 1, and Friday, Jan. 2 for the New Year’s holiday.

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.