LADOTD Addresses Rumors that I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge is Unsafe

From LADOTD Lake Charles office on March 18, 2019 – The Department of Transportation and Development was recently notified of a document that mistakenly issues a travel advisory on the I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge and falsely states the bridge is not safe for travel. DOTD would like to address these rumors by saying there is no travel advisory for the I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge, and the bridge is safe for travel. If there was a safety concern with the bridge, DOTD would close it. An unsafe bridge is a closed bridge in Louisiana.

The department actively works to maintain all the state’s infrastructure. In fact, an $8 million dollar project to repair the expansion joints at the I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge and the overpasses on I-10 from Calcasieu River Bridge to Opelousas Street was completed last year. This project prepared I-10 to handle the additional traffic volume due to the I-210 project.

“It’s terribly irresponsible for these types for rumors to spread and unnecessarily cause travelers to fear driving certain routes that the state works tirelessly to keep safe,” said Chief Engineer Chris Knotts. “We inspect the bridges around the state regularly and conduct repairs and maintenance work in an effort to extend their life and to ensure safety. Bridges are load posted or closed as needed to ensure safety for travelers.”

DOTD advises motorist to get their travel and bridge information from a reliable source. If a motorist has questions about the accuracy of any information related to state and federal highways, they may confirm the information with our Customer Service department at 1-877-452-3683 (1-877-4LA-DOTD).