The Department of Transportation and Development District 08 Office in Alexandria advises that the forecasted weather conditions over the next 48 hours may result in the accumulation of ice on some of the elevated bridges in Central Louisiana.



Due to the infrequent occurrence and enormity of this type of weather event, the Department has only limited resources on hand to maintain its roads and bridges under these adverse weather conditions, therefore it is necessary to prioritize which routes will be first maintained and kept open.



The following priority routes will be the first to be maintained and kept open where possible as a result of the predicted winter weather : I-49, US 71, US 84, US 165, US 167, US 171, LA 1, LA 6, LA 8, LA 9, LA 10, LA 28, LA 29, LA 34, LA 107, LA 115, LA 117, LA 498, and LA 3054. The priority routes were chosen due to their importance of carrying the greatest number of vehicles in the major North to South and East to West corridors through District 08 and to maintain continuity throughout the State.



Certain bridges and elevated structures along some of the above priority routes are not maintainable, and therefore, must be closed when conditions deteriorate. These include:



- Richard Thompson/LA 8 Bridge over the Red River

- Gillis Long/US 165B Bridge in Alexandria over the Red River

- Urban elevated sections of I-49 in Alexandria, from Exit 80-MacArthur Drive (Jct. US 71/167) to Exit 94-Rapides Station (Jct. Parish Road 23), along with the I-49 overpass bridges at Broadway Avenue, Sugarhouse Road, and Cotton Gin Road. There is a high probability that these roadways will be closed tonight.



All motorists are advised to avoid travel until the weather allows the roadways and bridges to thaw and become free of ice. Motorists who must travel are advised to use extreme caution when traversing all bridges because bridge decks are subject to ice formation with the onset of freezing temperatures and this may contribute to drivers losing control of their vehicles.