Update On I-10 Bridge Traffic In Lake Charles, Avoid For Next Few Days And Here’s Why

UPDATE MONDAY, DECEMBER 4TH, 2023.

Motorists will need to avoid the I-10 Bridge Westbound as crews have the outside right lane closed for a bridge inspection. The inside lane is open but traffic is down to a crawl. The work is expected to take place until at least 2:30 pm. today and could also be done again tomorrow. 

Motorists in Lake Charles and Southwest Louisiana are going to need to find an alternate route if your travels take you over the I-10 bridge daily. If you read the headline, you were probably thinking what we were thinking. Do I need a reason to avoid the bridge because most of us don't like traveling over the bridge anyway?

If you are from Southwest Louisiana you know how scary it is to travel over the bridge anyway. Have you noticed lately when travelling over the bridge the guardrail situation?

There are certain sections of the I-10 bridge on both the East and West bound guardrails where the original rails are gone and have been patched with metal pieces to fill the voids where people have crashed into the sides of the guardrails.

Plus back in September, we reported that the I-10 bridge was making some weird noises as traffic traveled over the bridge. Have you seen that video? Check it out here. 

So back to why you should avoid the I-10 bridge this week?

The DOTD has announced that starting today, Tuesday, November 28th, I-10 Eastbound will be reduced to one lane starting at 8:00 a.m. The right lane of the I-10 bridge Eastbound will be closed down and will stay closed until 2:30 p.m.

The closure of I-10 Eastbound on the bridge will take place today, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. each day. Don't think you will be in the clear after that because starting on Friday, December 1st, 2023, they will be closing one lane of traffic on I-10 Westbound each day with closures taking place at the same times, 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The reason? The DOTD said they would be doing bridge inspections. They are suggesting that you avoid possible traffic by taking the I-210 bridge into Lake Charles or leaving the city. So If your commute takes you over the I-10 bridge, you will want to make plans to change your route this week.