I-10 Bridge and PPG Drive Closures: What Drivers Need to Know

Lake Charles, LA [KNGT-FM] - We have a new traffic alert for all Southwest Louisiana drivers. Starting Monday, October 26th, drivers will encounter another closure due to the current I-10 bridge project.

Drivers traveling westbound on Interstate 10 in Southwest Louisiana should prepare for months of construction-related disruptions, with closures affecting the route from the I-10 Bridge in Lake Charles to PPG Drive near Sulphur.

The DOTD has announced that the westbound entrance ramp at PPG Drive (Exit 26) is scheduled to temporarily close Monday, October 26, 2026, and is expected to remain closed until February 2027. The closure will allow crews to construct a new permanent roadway. Motorists are advised to detour via U.S. 90 West and LA 108 South.

Meanwhile, as we reported earlier this week, the westbound I-10 Bridge will continue to experience overnight closures Sunday through Thursday.

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From 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., crews will close one right lane on westbound I-10. From 10 p.m. until 5 a.m., the bridge will be completely closed to westbound traffic. All westbound lanes are scheduled to reopen at 5 a.m.

During full bridge closures, motorists will be detoured via Lakeshore Drive (Exit 30A), eastbound I-10 and I-210 West before reconnecting with I-10 West. Drivers will then use the I-210 West Lake Charles Bypass at Exit 34 to return to I-10 West.

With overnight bridge closures and the long-term PPG Drive ramp closure happening along the same westbound corridor, commuters should allow extra travel time, plan alternate routes, and watch for construction updates.

History of The I-10 Bridge In Lake Charles, Louisiana

The I-10 bridge was built under Louisiana Gov. Earl K. Long's administration
The actual name of the I-10 bridge is the Louisiana Memorial World War II Bridge, which was named in June of 1951.
The bridge opened in 1952 to traffic
Before the I-10 Bridge, if you needed to get to Lake Charles, you had to travel down Highway 90 and to cross the Calcasieu River over a drawbridge.

The disruptions may be frustrating for local drivers, but the work is part of ongoing improvements aimed at delivering a new I-10 Bridge and upgraded roadways for the region.