DOTD Issues Easter Travel Advisory

BATON ROUGE, La. – The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) is advising drivers of upcoming work schedules for interstate and major road projects throughout Louisiana for the Easter holiday (Friday, April 22 through Sunday, April 24).

DOTD Secretary Sherri H. LeBas, 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.

Southwest Louisiana

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

In Acadia Parish, there may be intermittent lane closures on the I-10 overpass over LA 13 in Crowley due to an ongoing repair project.

In the Lake Charles area, all lanes of I-210 will remain open to traffic. Construction continues on I-10 near Sulphur, with one lane closed in each direction.

Southeast Louisiana

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

In Jefferson Parish, the Huey P. Long Bridge will have the left lane closed in each direction from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, April 22.

In the Thibodaux area, the Bayou Blue Pontoon Bridge on LA 316 is closed to vehicular traffic due to repairs. In addition, LA 308 in Lafourche Parish near Valentine is closed to traffic for a bridge replacement project.

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 East Baton Rouge and Livingston parishes, all lanes of I-10 and I-12 will remain open. Drivers should note that the speed limit has been reduced to 50 mph within the construction

zones on I-10 and I-12.

Central Louisiana

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

In Natchitoches Parish, LA 6 at the Grand Ecore Bridge will continue to be reduced to one lane. Temporary traffic lights are in place to control the flow of traffic. Drivers may experience minor delays because of construction activity in this area.

Northeast Louisiana

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

Northwest Louisiana

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

Oversize/overweight vehicle movement

Secretary LeBas, announced today that all oversize and overweight vehicle movement on all State highways will be prohibited on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 22-24 (Easter weekend).

LeBas said the decision was made in conjunction with the Louisiana Department of Public Safety, Office of State Police, to provide maximum safety for motorists traveling on State highways during this holiday.

The Department’s Truck Permit Office will also be closed on Friday, April 22. Please call 1-800-654-1433 for information on permits.

LA Swift Bus Service

LA Swift, the bus service that provides coach bus rides between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, will maintain its regular operating schedule throughout the Easter holiday weekend.

Schedules and further details are available at www.laswift.com and through LA Swift’s Customer Service Center at (877)-94-SWIFT (1-877-947-9438). The center’s hours of operation are 7 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The bus service makes stops in Baton Rouge, Sorrento and LaPlace in addition to express service between the CATS Florida Street terminal and the Elk Place stop in New Orleans.

Further information

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.

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.511la.org.

Traffic cameras for the Baton Rouge, Denham Springs, Walker, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Shreveport/Bossier City, Monroe/West Monroe, Houma, LaPlace and New Orleans areas also may be viewed from the 511 site.

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 business hours are 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Customer Service Center will be closed Friday, April 22.

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.

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 dotdcs@la.gov, 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.

Motorists can access up-to-date travel information by dialing 511 or by visiting www.511la.org. Out of-state travelers can call 1-888-ROAD-511 (1-888-762-3511)