Tractor Pulling Mardi Gras Float Tips Over, Shutting Down Portion of I-10 in Louisiana

NEW ORLEANS, La. (KPEL News) - The Mardi Gras season once again tied up a major roadway in Louisiana. But this time, it wasn't because of a parade.

A tractor pulling a Mardi Gras float tipped over on I-10 in New Orleans, shutting down more than one lane of traffic for a chunk of the day Tuesday.

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According to Fox 8 News in New Orleans, the tractor was pulling the float along the Interstate. Something caused the tractor to tip onto its side on US 90 West at the Tchoupitoulas Exit.

As a result, two lanes were "blocked at 2:30 p.m. and reopened just before 4 p.m.," the news station reported.

Mardi Gras Brings in All the Floats

More than 1,000 floats hit the streets of New Orleans every year during the Mardi Gras season. And there are parades all over the state, too.

But floats are more than just a means of transporting revelers down parade routes, as NOLA.com points out.

"At their best, they are moving theater — works of art that tell a story," the New Orleans media outlet explained. “'Theme floats' illustrate the subject of the parade. Some of the major krewes also feature 'signature' floats that signify a particular connection to the organization."

Of course, along with being the sign of a party, floats can also bring the drama. Look no further than the complaints stemming from the parade in Scott, Louisiana last weekend.

READ MORE: Frustration Over Float Denials in Scott Mardi Gras Parade

Being overly large and at times unwieldy, floats can definitely be a problem on the roads.