Stormy Skies and Traffic Shifts: Bossier City I-20 Project Enters Final Phase

Stormy Weather Expected as Bossier City’s I-20 Project Hits Final Phase!

Hey there, Bossier City! Grab your umbrellas, because it looks like we’re in for a mix of clouds and thunderstorms today. If you’re out and about, keep in mind that the weather will be warm with a high of around 72°F. Expect gentle winds from the south-southwest at 5 to 10 mph, but don’t let that fool you—the rain is coming! The chance of precipitation is sitting at a not-so-charming 70%! So buckle up; thunderstorms are forecasted to roll in later this evening, bringing with them occasional showers overnight with a low of about 57°F. The likelihood that we’ll see some rain tonight ticks up to a whopping 90%!

Traffic Alert: I-20 Construction Updates!

Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, or LADOTD for short, has some updates that could affect your drive. The major rehabilitation project on Interstate 20 in Bossier City is moving right along and has now entered the final phase of construction. If you use I-20 regularly, you’ll definitely want to pay attention to this!

Starting tonight, December 16, 2024, there’s a traffic swap happening for the eastbound direction of I-20. You heard it right! The clever folks at LADOTD are shifting traffic onto the remaining new travel lanes between Old Minden Road and Airline Drive. This means a closure of I-20 for eastbound traffic. But you’ll want to plan ahead because this nighttime closure will take place from around 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. for the next six nights—that’s right, a week full of tinkering on the roads!

What to Expect During the Construction

During these overnight closures, contractors will be busy moving concrete barriers to guide drivers onto those freshly paved inside lanes. They’ll also be putting down some temporary roadway striping. Don’t worry too much; even though eastbound traffic will be swerved around, you’ll still be able to exit I-20 at Benton Road (LA 3 – Exit 20B) or Barksdale Boulevard (US 71 – Exit 20C) interchanges. The I-20 eastbound on-ramp from Airline Drive will remain open, so fear not—getting on or off the interstate won’t be a total hassle!

As if that weren’t enough, the demolition of existing pavement on the outside lanes of I-20 has already kicked off. And guess what? It’s just the beginning! Construction of the new roadway base for those outside lanes is set to kick off in early January 2025. This ongoing project, officially dubbed Phase 3, aims to remove and completely reconstruct the outside lanes of I-20 from Hamilton Road to Industrial Drive in both directions. Additionally, the ramps at the Industrial Drive, Benton Road, Barksdale Boulevard, and Airline Drive interchanges will also be rebuilt.

Keeping You Informed

For those who want to stay in the loop, there’s a dedicated project webpage where you can access all sorts of resources and updates as this big ol’ construction job progresses. Make sure to keep checking back to stay ahead of the traffic woes. It’s recommended to plan your route wisely to avoid delays, especially during these upcoming nighttime closures.

All in all, the I-20 project is anticipated to wrap up by late 2025, so if you can hang tight through this stormy weather and construction chaos, brighter days are just around the corner!