Lake Charles, Louisiana – Lake Charles drivers using Interstate 10 Westbound will face several nights of lane closures in late January as construction crews place new concrete barrier wall along a busy stretch of the highway, according to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development.

The agency announced that the right lane of I-10 Westbound will be closed nightly from Exit 30A (Lakeshore Drive) to the Calcasieu River Bridge in Lake Charles. The temporary closures are scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. Tuesday, January 27, 2026, and continue through 5 a.m. Thursday, January 29, 2026.

The right lane will be closed each night within that time frame and then reopened by early morning, with crews “picking up” the closure daily so that daytime traffic can use all lanes. All work is set to be performed weather permitting, meaning heavy rain, storms, or other unsafe conditions could delay or change the schedule.

Where The Lane Closures Will Occur

The work zone will stretch along I-10 Westbound:

• From: Exit 30A, Lakeshore Drive in Lake Charles
• To: The Calcasieu River Bridge on I-10

This segment is a key route for local commuters, commercial trucks, and through traffic traveling across Calcasieu Parish and the broader southwest Louisiana region. The Calcasieu River Bridge is a well-known landmark along I-10 and a regular pinch point for congestion, even under normal conditions.

Purpose Of The I-10 Lane Closures

According to the transportation department, the nightly closures are necessary for the placement of concrete barrier wall along I-10 Westbound.

Concrete barrier walls are solid protective structures placed along or between travel lanes. They are commonly used to:

• Separate traffic from active construction areas
• Protect workers from passing vehicles
• Help guide drivers through work zones
• Reduce the risk that a vehicle leaves the roadway and enters dangerous areas

By installing barrier wall, transportation officials aim to create a safer, more controlled work zone as additional construction or maintenance takes place along this segment of I-10. While the department did not release further details about the larger project in this notice, barrier wall installation is typically one of the early steps in phased highway construction or rehabilitation.

Nighttime Work And Driver Impacts

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development scheduled the closures at night, between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m., when traffic volumes along I-10 are lower. That approach is common on interstate projects to limit impacts on daytime commuters and freight traffic.

Even with the nighttime schedule, drivers in Lake Charles and across Calcasieu Parish can expect:

• Slower traffic in the work zone
• Potential bottlenecks near Exit 30A and approaching the Calcasieu River Bridge
• Limited ability to change lanes as traffic shifts away from the closed right lane

Weather-Dependent Construction

The agency emphasized that all work is weather permitting. In highway construction, that typically means lane closures and barrier placement may be adjusted, postponed, or rescheduled if:

• Heavy rainfall reduces visibility or creates slick road surfaces
• Strong winds make it difficult or unsafe to handle equipment and materials
• Thunderstorms or other severe weather move through the Lake Charles area

If conditions change, the schedule could shift, and additional public updates may follow.

What Drivers Should Expect On I-10 In Lake Charles

While the notice did not include specific safety instructions, drivers moving through this portion of I-10 can generally expect:

• Work zone signs and message boards alerting motorists to the right lane closure
• Orange barrels, cones, and concrete barrier wall guiding traffic through the area
• Reduced speeds recommended or required in the construction zone
• The presence of crews and equipment close to the travel lanes during the posted hours

Transportation officials across Louisiana regularly encourage drivers to:

• Slow down in work zones
• Avoid distractions such as handheld cellphones
• Watch for sudden braking ahead
• Follow posted signs and lane markings

These practices help reduce the risk of a crash or incident in areas where lanes are narrowed or shifted for construction.

Regional Context

Interstate 10 is a major east–west corridor that cuts across Louisiana, connecting cities such as Lake Charles, Lafayette, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans, and linking the state to Texas and Mississippi. Any disruption, even short-term lane closures, can have ripple effects on regional commute times and commercial freight movement.

For residents, workers, and commercial drivers in and around Lake Charles, the nighttime I-10 Westbound lane closures from January 27 through January 29 represent another step in ongoing efforts to maintain and improve highway infrastructure in Calcasieu Parish.