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Source: http://lsp.org/news_detail.html?id=6868

id cleanReleaseDate troopName title
6868 2014-01-28 Statewide Statewide Winter Weather Advisory and Road Closure Update

HEADQUARTERS NEWS RELEASE

January 28, 2014


Statewide Winter Weather Advisory and Road Closure Update


As freezing temperatures and steady precipitation continue to create dangerous icy conditions, an increasing number of overpasses, bridges, and roadway surfaces have become too hazardous for travel requiring closures and traffic to be detoured. The Louisiana State Police continues to utilize extra patrols nearly doubling the amount of Troopers on duty while partnering with the State Fire Marshal’s Office, DPS Police, and numerous local agencies to provide the safest environment possible for motorists and citizens across the state.

Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development and Louisiana National Guard representatives remain active utilizing salt, sand, and de-icing agents on bridges, overpasses, and roadways where needed. Motorists are strongly urged to refrain from unnecessary travel and keep abreast of the latest weather conditions.

Troopers are currently monitoring the following road closures:

LSP Troop A (Baton Rouge region):


    · I-12 eastbound and westbound at the Essen Lane overpass is down to one lane in both directions

    · I-10 east and westbound at the LA 22 overpass is closed in both directions

    · I-10 from LA 73 to US 61 closed in both directions

    · LA 37 at Comite Bridge down to one lane in both directions

    · LA 1 S/B entrance to I-10 eastbound closed

    · LA 1 N/B entrance to I-10 eastbound closed

    · I-10 W/B and E/B exit ramps to LA 1

    · I-10 W/B exit ramp to Bluebonnet Blvd closed

    · I-10 W/B and E/B from LA-73 to LaPlace exit closed

    · I-10 W/B and E/B from Siegen Lane through the new Mississippi River Bridge closed

    · I-12 W/B and E/B from Airline Highway to the new Mississippi River Bridge closed

    · The new Mississippi River Bridge closed

    · LA 415 entrance ramps to I-10 closed


LSP Troop B (Metro New Orleans Area):

    · I-10 Twin Spans E/B and W/B are closed

    · I-55 N/B and S/B closed from I-10 to Ponchatoula (milepost 0.0 to 23)

    · LA 3139 S/B (Earhart Expressway) closed from Orleans Parish line to Dickory Avenue

    · LA 47 (Paris Road) and the Intracoastal Waterway Bridge (Green Bridge) closed

    · LA 3127 S/B closed at LA 3160, traffic diverted onto LA 18

    · I-310 S/B closed at LA18

    · I-10 E/B and W/B closed from Loyola to LA 641

    · U.S. 61 S/B and N/B at LA 3046 (Causeway Blvd) at the Traffic Circle is closed

    · LA 3046 (Causeway Blvd.) overpass of U.S. 61 closed

    · U.S. 90 Des Allemands Bridge is closed, traffic diverted to the Old U.S. 631 Bridge


LSP Troop C (Houma region):

    · LA 315 (Dularge Overpass) closed due to icy conditions in both directions, traffic detoured to Houma Intracoastal Tunnel or LA 24 - Houma Twin Span

    · LA 20 (Schriever Overpass) closed due to icy conditions in both directions, traffic detoured to LA 311 & Main Project Road

    · Valentine Bridge in Lafourche parish closed in both directions

    · West Larose Bridge (LA 1) closed, traffic detoured to LA 308

    · U.S. 90 Overpass in Amelia closed due to icy conditions in both directions, traffic detoured to LA 182 Amelia Bridge

    · LA 3213 @ Veterans Bridge (Gramercy Bridge) closed due to icy conditions in both directions, traffic detoured to I-310 Hale Boggs Bridge / Luling Bridge or LA 70 Sunshine Bridge)

    · Dulac Pontoon Bridge is experiencing mechanical issues and is closed to vehicular traffic until further notice.

    · DOTD continue to place salt & sand on the Sunshine Bridge, however the bridge remains open in both directions

    · Curfew will be implemented in Lafourche Parish, starting at 6:00 pm tonight until further notice


LSP Troop D (Lake Charles region):

    · Interstate 210 is closed in Calcasieu Parish

LSP Troop E (Alexandria region):

    · I-49 from Exit 80 to exit 94 (elevated portions of I-49 in Alexandria) closed

    · Boyce Bridge on LA 8 closed

    · Jackson Street Bridge from Alexandria to Main Street Pineville closed

    · One lane on both the northbound and the southbound lanes of the Purple Heart Bridge along with Broadway Overpass (Rapides) closed



LSP Troop F (Monroe region):


    · No road closures at this time

LSP Troop G (Shreveport region):

    · No road closures at this time

LSP Troop I (Lafayette region):

    · Elevated portion of US 90 between Rayne and Crowley closed

    · U.S. 90 at Mermentau near Acadia/Jeff Davis line is closed

    · John N. John (LA 13) in Crowley is closed

    · I-10 west bound closed from the 82 to the 87 due to icing

    · LA 3184 (Ambassador Caffery Parkway) over BNSF rail yard is closed

    · I-10 in both directions is closed in Lafayette Parish

    · St. Landry Parish curfew extended to 6:00pm Tuesday till 6:00am Wednesday

    · I-10 in both directions is closed in St. Martin Parish

    · U.S. 90 from Morgan City to Amelia, traffic rerouted to LA 182

    · U.S. 90 from LA 318 to Calumet in St Mary Parish closed

    · I-10 westbound between Rayne and Crowley closed and I-10 westbound between Duson and Rayne deteriorating rapidly

    · I-10 eastbound between Rayne and Duson is deteriorating rapidly as well with closure a strong possibility


LSP Troop L:

    · DOTD is currently scrapping the ice on I-55 north of LA 10 (both southbound

    · and northbound lanes)

    · The Causeway Bridge is closed in both directions (St. Tammany and Jefferson Parish)

    · The Twin Spans are closed in both directions (St. Tammany and Orleans Parish), traffic is being diverted to LA 433 in St. Tammany Parish and U.S. 11 in Orleans Parish.

    · I-55 elevated portion is closed in both directions (Tangipahoa and St. John Parish), traffic diverted to U.S. 51 in Tangipahoa and St. John Parish



For real time updates on roadway closures, crash locations, and pertinent safety information, stay tuned to the Louisiana State Police Facebook page, follow the LSP Twitter feed @LAStatePolice, or access the DOTD travel information database by calling 511 or logging onto 511la.org.

Citizens and visitors are also encouraged to enroll and receive Nixle Alerts. To enroll for this free service, visit www.nixle.com, complete the required information, and select Louisiana State Police as your agency.

Motorists are reminded to drive responsibly and be prepared for uncertain driving conditions. If traveling today is a necessity, the Louisiana State Police urges you to follow these winter weather driving tips:


    · Check Facebook and Nixle for road closures along your route
    · Check vehicle fluids (anti-freeze), tire pressure, battery windshield wipers, etc.
    · Reduce speed
    · Allow extra time to reach your destination
    · Allow extra space between vehicles
    · Do not drive using cruise control in icy conditions
    · Anticipate stops (such as stop signs and traffic signals) and brake gently while stopping
    · If you encounter a skid, do not panic, take your foot off the accelerator, and steer into the skid till you regain control
    · Use low beam headlights if it is raining/sleeting
    · Ensure all vehicle occupants are properly restrained
    If you should have vehicle problems, be sure to stay in your vehicle, as freezing temperatures can be life-threatening and the safest place is in the vehicle. Have a survival kit: emergency first aid kit, blankets, jumper cables, high-energy or dehydrated foods, flashlight with extra batteries, extra (charged) cell phone battery, emergency flares, and bottled water.

    If you experience difficulties or witness hazardous situations while on the highway, notify your local State Police Troop office by dialing *LSP (*577) from your cell phone or contact your local law enforcement agency.

    Contact Information:
    Sgt. Nick Manale
    Louisiana State Police Or Your Local LSP PIO
    Public Affairs Section
    Nicholas.Manale@la.gov
    www.LSP.org
    www.facebook.com/LouisianaStatePolice

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