(The Center Square) – Emergency responders in north Louisiana are rescuing motorists stranded on Interstate 20 in miles of traffic gridlock caused by a weekend storm that pounded the region with ice and freezing temperatures.
A section of westbound I-20 is completely closed, and motorists are being asked to find an alternate route. Cleanup is expected to last the rest of the week.
“We’re looking at a lot of hands on deck while we work through that gridlock,” said Eddie Thomas, Troop G public information officer.
The line of stopped tractor-trailers and passenger vehicles stretches approximately three miles, in a section of roadway between Arcadia to Ruston. Some drivers have been stranded since Sunday and Monday, Thomas confirmed.
“Right now we do not have a timeline for getting the roadway cleared. It’s very fluid and based on weather conditions,” he said. “Food and water is being provided and we’re transporting motorists to warming shelters. We don’t want any medical emergencies.”
The gridlock started when multiple 18-wheelers jackknifed or slid off the roads due to freezing and black ice. The crashes blocked both westbound lanes.
“This is a heavily used interstate for business and commerce,” Thomas said. “The problem is at the time the 18-wheelers blocked the roadway, traffic was already accumulating.”
Once it was apparent that clearing the roadway exceeded their capacity, the highway patrol asked the Louisiana National Guard to bring heavy equipment to the scene. United Way, various local law enforcement agencies and other emergency responders are pitching in.
Drivers were encouraged to use 511la.org to find updated road closure information. Stranded motorists can call 2-1-1 to request assistance or transportation to a warming station in Arcadia or Ruston.
The temperature is expected to approach 40 degrees Tuesday but drop below freezing overnight. Wednesday’s temperature is expected to reach 50 degrees.
“We are hopeful as the roadway conditions improve, it will allow us to be successful,” Thomas said.
