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 the Memorial Day weekend (Saturday, May 23, through Monday, May 25).
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-310, I-510 and I-610 will remain open during the holiday weekend.
In St. Charles and Jefferson parishes, I-10 westbound will have one lane closed beginning Sunday, May 24, from 9 p.m. until Monday, May 25, at 6 a.m. The westbound lane will close again on Monday, May 25, from 9 p.m. until Tuesday, May 26, at 6 a.m.
In Jefferson Parish, I-10 westbound will have two lanes closed from the east end of the Bonnabel overpass to the west end of the Bonnabel entrance ramp beginning Monday, May 25, from 11 p.m. until Tuesday, May 26, at 5 a.m. The Causeway North/South exit ramp will also close beginning Monday, May 25, from 11 p.m. until Tuesday, May 26, at 5 a.m. Causeway traffic should exit at Bonnabel to Veterans or use the Clearview exit to Veterans.
Construction on the Causeway Interchange Phase I project has begun. The I-10 eastbound on-ramp from North Causeway will remain closed for approximately four to five months while crews reconstruct the ramp. The detour for traffic is the South Service Road. Exit North Causeway onto the South Service Road and enter I-10 east using the Bonnabel on-ramp.
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-55 will remain open.
Construction on I-12 between O'Neal Lane in Baton Rouge and Range Avenue in Denham Springs will cease for the Memorial Day weekend. Drivers should note that the speed limit has been reduced to 45 miles per hour within the construction zone on I-12.
In the Baton Rouge area, all lanes of I-10 will remain open. Drivers should be aware that the speed limit has been reduced to 50 miles per hour within the construction zone on I-10 from the I-10/I-12 split to Siegen Lane.
Southwest Louisiana
In the Lafayette area, all lanes of I-10 and I-49 will remain open to traffic.
In Acadia Parish, La. 13 northbound will remain closed from U.S. 90 to the Acadia Parish Courthouse Circle. Traffic will be detoured via U.S. 90 and La. 1111.
In St. Landry Parish, U.S. 190 over U.S. 71 will remain reduced from four lanes to two-lane, two-way traffic onto the westbound roadway because the eastbound Atchafalaya River Bridge has been removed.
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.
Northeast Louisiana
In Caldwell Parish, construction will continue on sections of U.S. 165 and La. 4 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 will continue on the Tensas River Bridge on La. 4 at the Tensas/Franklin parish line. No delays are expected.
In Catahoula and Concordia parishes, construction will continue on U.S. 84 in the Jonesville area. Drivers may experience minor delays because of construction activity in this area.
In Ouachita Parish, U.S. 80 from Camp Road to La. 546 (Cheniere-Drew Road) will remain closed for bridge replacement. The detour is Cheniere-Drew Road and I-20.
Northwest Louisiana
In the Shreveport-Bossier City area and surrounding parishes, all lanes of I-49 will remain open.
In Bossier Parish, I-20 will remain reduced to one lane of traffic in each direction at I-220 (exit 26) to approximately three miles west of La. 157 (exit 33).
Also in Bossier Parish, I-220 eastbound to I-20 eastbound is closed. Traffic will be detoured via U.S. 80 (exit 17A) to La. 157 to I-20.
In Caddo Parish, I-220 will remain reduced to one lane of traffic in each direction between La. 173 (exit 5) and U.S. 71 (exit 7). Eastbound traffic on I-220 is being detoured to the westbound roadway between La. 173 and U.S. 71.
In addition, the eastbound I-20 Welcome Center near the Texas state line will remain 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 25, 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 this 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 "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.
DOTD’s Weights and Standards Office and Truck Permit Office will be closed on Monday, May 25.
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. Out-of-state travelers can access the system by calling 1-888-ROAD-511 (1-888-762-3511). Travelers can also access this information by visiting the 511 Traveler Information System Web site at www.511.la.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, Shreveport/Bossier City, 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 Monday, May 25 in observance of Memorial Day. Finally, drivers are encouraged to tune in to local radio stations for current traffic and incident 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.