Full I-10 Overpass Closure in Lake Charles Sept. 20

[KNGT-FM]- If you live in Southwest Louisiana, you already have traffic and construction fatigue. We just went through a lengthy traffic congestion on the I-210 bridge, with the Westbound lane being down to one lane for months, causing major delays and congestion backing traffic up for miles. Thank goodness, they have completed putting up the new lights on the I-210 bridge, and all lanes are back open.

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I-210 Bridge (Photo by Mike Soileau)

Now drivers are dealing with the closure of the Westlake exit Westbound on I-10. If you are trying to get to Westlake and are traveling Westbound, you now have to get off at the PPG drive exit and make a U-turn, and get back on I-10 Eastbound to be able to exit into Westlake. This is the start of the new I-10 bridge expansion, building a new bridge.

Now, drivers in Lake Charles and Southwest Louisiana will need to be aware of another closure coming to the area this weekend. The DOTD announced the closure on social media, saying,

DOTD has announced there will be a FULL closure of the Interstate 10 overpass on LA 397 between the I-10 Westbound entrance ramp and the I-10 Eastbound exit ramp, from to 12 a.m. Saturday, September 20 through 5 a.m. Monday, September 22.

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They went on to give out the detour information that drivers will need to know if their travels take them this way. DOTD said,

Detour information:
• Motorists heading southbound on LA 397 will be detoured via LA 397 to I-10 WB, to US 90 (Fruge Street) WB, then to LA 397.
• Motorists heading northbound on LA 397 will be detoured via LA 397 to LA 3020 WB (Opelousas Street), to US 171 NB, to LA 3059 EB, then to LA 397.

The DOTD stated that the closure is necessary for crews to diamond grind the pavement and replace the guardrail on the Interstate 10 overpass on LA 397. Please note this if you plan to travel this way this weekend.

Here was the official post from social media.