Update: As of 12:30 pm on March 7, both eastbound lanes and the inside westbound lane on the I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge have reopened. Read the update here.
Original story:
LAKE CHARLES, La. — All lanes of the Interstate 10 Calcasieu River Bridge in Lake Charles are closed in both directions late Friday night after a serious crash involving a passenger vehicle and an 18-wheeler carrying multiple vehicles on the westbound side, according to Lake Charles Police and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD). The 18-wheeler reportedly overturned and caught fire.
Parts of the bridge were damaged during the crash, including the guardrail and median, and some debris fell off the bridge
Authorities reported the closure at approximately 11:05 p.m. on March 6. As of March 6 at 11:50 p.m., both westbound and eastbound traffic on I-10 is being diverted away from the bridge while emergency crews respond to the incident.
Authorities indicated that it was initially a two-vehicle crash, but multiple vehicles being hauled by the 18-wheeler were also damaged in the crash. One driver was injured and taken to a local hospital. No information on how long the bridge is expected to remain closed. and no cause of the crash has been provided at this time.
According to reports from Westlake Police, debris fell off the bridge following the crash, but no vehicles fell off the bridge.
The crash occurred on the westbound side of the I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge, a major route that connects Lake Charles with communities and interchanges to the west and east across Calcasieu Parish and southwest Louisiana. Because both directions of travel are now shut down, drivers can expect significant delays and detours in the Lake Charles area overnight and possibly into the morning commute if the closure remains in place.
Traffic in both directions is being diverted, but specific detour routes have not been detailed in the information provided by officials. Typically, when I-10 is closed in this area, some traffic is routed to the I-210 bypass.
At the time this was published, it was indicated that the I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge will remain closed until crews from Louisiana DOTD are able to complete an inspection and make appropriate repairs to the damaged guardrail.