Update – Friday, Jan. 19, 8:30 a.m. Central: All Louisiana interstates are back up and running except for I-110 around Baton Rouge. I-110 southbound remains closed in its entirety between U.S. 61 and I-10, and the northbound side is closed between exit 6 and U.S. 61.
Update – Wednesday, Jan. 17, 4 p.m. Central: Most interstates in southern Louisiana remain closed, at least in part, Wednesday afternoon due to icy conditions. As reported Wednesday morning, I-10 is closed from Lafayette all the way through New Orleans to Slidell.
In addition to I-10, other interstate closures in the state include I-12 between Baton Rouge and Covington, I-55 between I-10 and the Mississippi state line, I-110 near Baton Rouge, I-210 between Sulphur and Lake Charles, I-310 between Destrehen and Kenner, and I-610 between Metairie and New Orleans. The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway is also closed in both directions. I-49 is also closed from Shreveport to the Arkansas state line, as well as a 4-mile section from U.S. 190 to U.S. 167.
Update – Wednesday, Jan. 17, 8:30 a.m. Central: As of Wednesday morning, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development has closed I-49 near Shreveport and near the Arkansas state line, along with I-220 near Shreveport, due to ice on the roadways. On the south side of the state, I-10 is closed from Lafayette all the way through New Orleans to Slidell. Other closures include I-55 between I-10 and the Mississippi state line, I-110 near Baton Rouge, I-210 between Sulphur and Lake Charles, I-310 between Destrehen and Kenner, and I-610 between Metairie and New Orleans. The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway is also closed in both directions.
Interstates in Alabama are open Wednesday morning, but icy conditions have been reported on I-65 and I-85 near Montgomery, and travel is discouraged. Georgia is experiencing similar issues on I-85 southwest of Atlanta with icy patches on the highway.
Birmingham-based news station WBRC reported Wednesday morning approximately a dozen tractor trailers are stuck trying to get over an icy hill on I-65 just north of Montgomery.
8am: About a dozen 18 wheelers are stuck trying to get over an icy hill on 65 NB in AUTAUGA Co..I-65 shutdown in this area bc of this @wbrcnews #wbrctraffic pic.twitter.com/fbmx8qjYmT
— WBRC FOX6 Traffic (@WBRCtraffic) January 17, 2018
Original story follows:
#winter update for the south:
Houston & San Antonio: icy
Monroe LA: snow
Jackson MS: snow
Nashville: snow
Huntsville AL: snow
Lexington KY: snowMay not amount to much, but bitter cold will freeze whatever does come down.#Inga pic.twitter.com/SCCvnhBWAn
— kelly cass (@kellycass) January 16, 2018
Winter weather in the South has caused some interstate closures in Louisiana, along with an emergency declaration in Alabama, prompting the suspension of hours-of-service regulations for some truckers in the state.
As of Tuesday morning, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development has closed I-49 near Shreveport and near the Arkansas state line, along with I-220 near Shreveport, due to ice on the roadways.
LaDOTD says I-49 is closed in both directions between Louisiana Highway 526 and I-20 on the northbound side and between I-20 and Louisiana Highway 3132 on the southbound side. Additionally, I-49 is closed in both directions between exit 215 and the Arkansas state line. LaDOTD says an alternate route is U.S. Highway 71. I-220 between exit 5 and exit 7A-7B is also closed in both directions due to ice.
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Monday issued a State of Emergency in preparation for winter weather entering the state Tuesday. The main impact from the storm is expected to be ice on the roadways as temperatures drop throughout the day Tuesday, according to Birmingham meteorologist James Spann. Snow is expected to fall in the state and melt when it hits the ground, then freeze soon after with temperatures dropping into the 20s as the day goes on.
Ivey’s emergency declaration suspends hours-of-service regulations for drivers providing “emergency relief” to the state in the aftermath of the weather.
The storms are expected to impact Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and Kentucky before continuing into the Northeast.
This officer from @ShreveportPD "ice skated" to the scene of one of many accidents following a flash freeze and 2-3" of snow. Temps stay in the 20s today so no melting. Please stay off these roads! pic.twitter.com/6sv1tU5LGT
— Mike Seidel (@mikeseidel) January 16, 2018
