I-10 Gas Fire Sparks Extended Delays in Louisiana

The head of the Louisiana state trucking association said that shippers and freight transporters should expect major delays after a part of Interstate 10 was closed in the wake of a natural gas fire.

The continued closure of I-10, which state transportation officials said Monday could last 10-15 days, will cause serious delays, increase costs and could disrupt shipping schedules across the country, according to Cathy Gautreaux, LMTA’s executive director.

American Trucking Associations said Monday that truckers have been asked by the Louisiana Department of Transportation to use Interstate 20 in the northern portion of the state as their primary East-West route while I-10 is closed.

Meanwhile, ATA said that authorities are rerouting westbound I-I0 traffic at State High-way 415 in Port Allen, La. to U.S.Route 190 West, and then to Interstate 49 South in Opelousas to Lafayette.  Eastbound traffic will take the same route in reverse.

The fire, which has been burning since Nov. 15 in a natural gas well near Ramah, La., did not seriously damage the interstate, ATA said.