Heads up, drivers: if you're planning on hitting I-10 Eastbound near Crowley, prepare to reroute your travels in the coming days. The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) has announced that the entrance and exit ramps at Exit 82 – LA 1111 (East Crowley) in Acadia Parish will be closed for a series of nights to facilitate some much-needed roadwork. According to the DOTD announcement, closures will take place from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., starting Wednesday, March 12, and occur again through Thursday, March 13, and from Sunday, March 16, into the early morning of Monday, March 17, contingent on the weather's cooperation.
The sudden ramp detours are linked to milling and paving operations as well as guardrail work along I-10's exterior shoulder and ramps. Commuters should take note: I-10 Eastbound will be inaccessible via LA 1111 during these scheduled closures. Instead, travelers must use detour routes which bypass the construction site, directing them to Exit 80 - LA 13 (Crowley, Eunice) before swinging south on LA 13, cruising east on LA 1111 (Odd Fellows Rd), and finally pointing north on LA 1111 (Tower Rd).
Similarly, for those journeying on LA 1111 desiring entrance to I-10 Eastbound, detour will lead them onto I-10 Westbound to Exit 80 – LA 13 (Crowley Eunice), then south on LA 13, and subsequently back onto I-10 Eastbound. This rerouting script is bound to add a bit more time to your commute, so plan accordingly to ensure punctuality for your destinations.
One critical caveat from the DOTD's announcement: emergency vehicles will find no passage through the entrance and exit ramps at Exit 82 - LA 1111 (East Crowley) for the duration of the closures. Detour signage and instructions will, however, be prominently displayed to guide unwitting motorists through the temporary maze of rerouted traffic. Additionally, there will be no restrictions on vehicle width for those driving through this area, a small mercy amidst the inconvenience.
DOTD urges motorists to exercise patience and maintain a vigilant eye for work crews and their equipment. They thank the community in advance for its cooperation and advise all to drive cautiously through the construction zone. The latest information and announcements about closures and detours can be monitored on the DOTD website.
