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Most Louisiana interstates reopened after days of shutdowns from ice storm

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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.

Original story follows:

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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.