Lake Charles, Louisiana - Lake Charles drivers should prepare for daytime closures on a well-used roadway over the next several weeks.
Smith Road, from Southpark Drive to Louisiana Highway 14 (LA 14) in Lake Charles, will be closed from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day starting Wednesday, Feb. 11, and continuing through Saturday, March 7. The closure is scheduled to allow crews to replace T-line poles, which are part of the utility transmission line system that carries electricity across long distances.
According to the closure notice, the road will reopen to traffic at 3 p.m. daily. Local traffic, including residents who live along the affected stretch of Smith Road, will be allowed access to their homes during the work.
Through traffic, however, will need to use alternate routes. Drivers can detour using LA 14, Red Davis McCollister Road, Southpark Drive, and Smith Road outside the closed segment. Detour signs will be posted to guide motorists through the area.
Officials advise drivers to expect delays and to allow extra travel time, especially during the morning and mid-afternoon hours when work is underway and school and work traffic may be heaviest.
The schedule for the closure could change if inclement weather affects construction activity. Heavy rain, lightning, or high winds can delay work on utility poles and lines for safety reasons, potentially extending the overall project timeline or prompting day-to-day adjustments.
The T-line pole replacement project is intended to improve reliability and safety along the transmission corridor.
Motorists in Lake Charles who regularly use Smith Road between Southpark Drive and LA 14 are encouraged to monitor detour signs, drive with caution in the work zone, and plan alternate routes during the 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. closure window through March 7.