Arctic front update: Jan. 17, 2018

Lafourche Booking Log – Jan. 16, 2018

January 17, 2018

A Labor of Love

January 17, 2018

EDIT: As of 2 p.m., all roads in Lafourche Parish are open.

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After a night of sleet, frozen rain and a few snowflakes, the worst of the cold weather is here.

Local officials are urging locals to stay off the road today – unless they have to – with temperatures still below freezing and wind chills still in the teens.

Across the area, many roads and bridges are still closed because of fear of icing.

If re-opened today, officials said they may not stay open for long because the weather is expected to deteriorate again once the sun goes down, which will cause another cold, frigid night.

The National Weather Service has extended a hard-freeze warning for both Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes until 11 a.m. tomorrow.

Governor John Bel Edwards has also issued a state of emergency for the state, while also announcing that salt will be distributed throughout the state to help keep roads safe.

The elevated portion of the La. Highway 1 Bridge in Leeville was closed earlier, but is now open, allowing workers to go to and from the oil and gas hub of Port Fourchon.

Authorities urge caution because there still may be icy patches of the road.

At noon, the following bridges were closed in Lafourche:

ROAD & BRIDGE CLOSURES:

Jackson Street Bridge in Thibodaux
U.S. 90 from Terrebonne to Raceland.
Des Allemands Overpass on U.S. 90
LA 308 Overpass in Larose
Le Pont D’or (Cut Off Lift Bridge)
Cote Blanche Pontoon Bridge in Cut Off
Galliano Pontoon Bridge
The Rita Swing Bridge in Lockport is still out due to structural damage.
Overnight bridge closure originally scheduled for the New Larose Lift Bridge has been RESCHEDULED for next week.

In Terrebonne, the Dulac Pontoon Bridge is closed, but the Twin Spans Bridge is open.

Drivers looking for a re-route are asked to be cautious because US 90 between LA 182 (Raceland) and Morgan City in St. Mary and Terrebonne Parish is CLOSED effective immediately due to winter weather conditions.