Historic flooding in Louisiana - March 2016

[bassoon1986]

I'm sure you have all seen pictures and videos across the news of the major flooding happening in Louisiana over the past week. (This is not to rule out other Southern states; I've seen much of the same in parts of east Texas and southern Mississippi, but Louisiana has been affected statewide). I think as of right now, all of Louisiana has been declared a state of emergency, and 7 parishes have already received federal assistance with more to come.

Travel-wise, northern Louisiana became mostly blocked off by the end of last week. Many major and minor cities were inaccessible from all sides due to floodwaters, mainly Shreveport, Ruston, and Monroe. The ever-changing updates to road closures was staggering. Even now since the rain has stopped, road closures are happening further south as major rivers and bodies of water collect from all of the flooded tributaries and streams. Many bridges on state highways have been washed out. Southeastern Louisiana had a later storm that has since crippled that part of the state as well. At one point, the outer lanes of I-12 near Hammond were flooding and detours were suggesting travelers to detour through New Orleans on I-10. This must be a first, when travelers are urged to escape floodwaters by detouring through a dry New Orleans!

There are many past news clips and pictures I could post but now I wanted to focus on southwestern Louisiana, as the call was just made to close I-10 at the LA/TX border. At this point there aren't many great detours for such a major highway because the next 3 bridges across the Sabine River headed north are all submerged: LA/TX 12 near Deweyville, TX, US 190 near Merryville, LA, and LA 8/TX 63 near Burr Ferry.

http://www.katc.com/story/31471066/breaking-i-10-closed-at-texaslouisiana-border?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_KATC-TV_3:_Acadiana_s_Newschannel

http://www.wfaa.com/traffic/high-water-shuts-down-i-10-at-louisiana-border/83481213

[longhorn]

What's the condition of the "Star" rest stop on I-10 at the border?

[Chris]

Apparently traffic can still cross the Sabine River south of Port Arthur, using Highways 82 and 27. Of course, this is a simple two-lane road, and not really suitable as a detour for a major Interstate Highway, but for traffic within the region (Beaumont to Lake Charles) it's much less of a detour than to use the recommended detour via I-20.

[bassoon1986]

This link has a few photos taken this morning. The star isn't visible but flooding has risen to the rest area buildings.

http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/Flooding-forces-I-10-closure-6890618.php#photo-9607157

[longhorn]

http://drivetexas.org/#/11/30.1679/-93.6831?future=false

Scoll to the right for Texas/LA. border.

[wxfree]

LADOTD has closed I-10's westbound lanes.  Eastbound lanes are still open.  US 190 has reopened as river levels there are falling.  The crest is expected to cross I-10 in the next 2 days, so the eastbound lanes may close later.

[oscar]

I crossed into Louisiana on I-10 about 1:30pm this afternoon (3/15), after the articles posted upthread indicated that the Sabine River bridge was closed completely. I saw westbound traffic moving on the Texas side of the bridge, though I'm not positive I saw westbound traffic on the bridge itself rather than just entering I-10 WB from one of the Texas interchanges near the bridge.

The closed rest area, and weigh station, just east of the bridge on the Louisiana side were both completely submerged.

[bassoon1986]

Wow, then Drive Texas and LA DOTD haven't updated anything. Everything they've been saying, even today, is that Both directions of I-10 are still closed. And US 190 or I-20 is the detour.

[apjung]

SR 82 is another alternate route for cars.
http://www.nola.com/traffic/index.ssf/2016/03/headed_to_texas_flooding_has_c.html

[The Ghostbuster]

I saw the floods on WeatherNation. It looks pretty bad down south.

[brownpelican]

Luckily they haven't closed I-10 or I-59 at the Mississippi border, though it came very close to that.

[US71]

Luckily they haven't closed I-10 or I-59 at the Mississippi border, though it came very close to that.

I-10 at the Sabine River is likely to be closed up to a week.

[wxfree]

After some damage repairs, I-10 at the Sabine River is open again.  I would expect that temporary emergency repairs have been made, which would necessitate proper repairs later.  Traffic is moving again, but may be obstructed for more work later.

[US71]

After some damage repairs, I-10 at the Sabine River is open again.  I would expect that temporary emergency repairs have been made, which would necessitate proper repairs later.  Traffic is moving again, but may be obstructed for more work later.

Look like TX 63/LA 8 will be closed for about a month for repairs.