Traffic Update

[Tigerfan]

I just drove from South of Baton Rouge (Gonzales, LA) across the I-10 Bridge to West Baton Rouge (Port Allen, LA). The traffic was already starting to back up and there were several people pulling their camper trailers from Miss, Alabama. There were also a large number of Texas license plates (probably people coming back from vacation early to get out of Dennis' path.

I hope we don't have another traffic jam like last year with Ivan, we'll see how the new contra-flow will work if it goes into effect.

[BreinLa]

What a great thread to start Tigerfan. Thanks!!!!!!!! Now our members can check out info they need to get outa town if they need too!!!!!!!

[Tigerfan]

I was hoping to be more helpful than adding "it's going nnw, no now it's heading wnw, no now it's nw!! Maybe we can add a thread called -removed-!!

I would actually like to wishcast it away from Pensacola. That area has been improved so much in the last 10 years and it is a vacation spot to many people in the south that I hate to see it battered down again. Not to mention the people in that area have to be very distraught and depressed.

[BRCop]

Folks take a little time to look at a map of the surface streets in Baton Rouge, Those coming from Hammond down I-12 can exit at O'neal lane. Travel approx. 2 miles north to Florida Blvd. Then left(west) on Florida Blvd, approx. 8 miles to the Government St. I-110 North on ramp. Take I-110 north to US-190 west, across the Old Mississippi River Bridge. US-190 to I-49 south, which ties back into I-10 west to Lake Charles/Houston. During Contraflow from New Orleans this shortcut will save you approx. 3 hours. God bless you and good luck.

[JuliannaMKH]

I have heard an unsubstantiated rumor that they will be turning all four lanes of I-65 northbound from Mobile until Montgomery starting tomorrow morning. Just an FYI to keep in mind for the folks in the panhandle and lower Alabama.

[Lindaloo]

They initiated that plan for Ivan Julianna. It worked quite well. Because I hear that it is bottle necked right now where 65 and 85 meet in Montgomery with only two lanes open. When they open all 4 lanes, it flows smoothly. I know because I was using it last year.

[LSU2001]

WWL NOLA is reporting traffic backups on I-10 westbound starting at Gonzales and continuing to the Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge. This is about 20-30 miles of I-10. An alternate route maybe Hwy 30 into downtown and re-enter I-10 west at the downtown point.
TIm

[Lindaloo]

Last night around 8 on my way to Mobile, I-10 westbound was bumper to bumper. I can imagine what it is like today.

[Pigsnibble]

My brother is trying to get back to Baton Rouge from Tallahassee early Sat AM....stick with I-10 or head more northerly ?

Any suggestions appreciated

[TSmith274]

The traffic in BR is always terrible. I don't want to get bashed for this, but yall over in Florida and Alabama might want to evacuate to New Orleans. We've got like 30,000 hotel rooms, and it is beginning to look like we're gonna be ok. You'd even be out of the hurricane watch area. A little risky, but I bet it'd be a good move.

[djtil]

We've got like 30,000 hotel rooms

thats funny...but probably true....i bet you could make some really good deals for high dollar french quarter rooms!!

[BRCop]

I just got home and drove eastbound through most of the city(Baton Rouge). I-12 westbound from LA-1 to US-190 under 20 mph. I-10 is solid to Prarieville, under 30 mph to Highland Rd. and under 15 mph until LA-1. I saw any 18 Wheelers, RV's and SUV's loaded down westbound. It will be worse tomorrow morning.

[rtd2]

I'm live in Biloxi...Drove over to Pascagoula (25 miles east) to help My parents pick up yard items that are easy to blow around..Noticed ALL the gas stations I PASSED (Keyword) WERE OUT OF GAS! 1 had Prem. ONLY @ 2.46..... 1-10 was Very heavy traffic West bound.

[sunny]

I just talked to my niece, she works at Barnes and Noble in Baton Rouge. She said traffic is bumper-to-bumper.

[MGC]

I didn't notice any heavier traffic today on I-10 in Gulfport. Saturday will be different.......MGC

[digitaldahling]

I-65 north from Mobile this afternoon was bumper to bumper, literally, and stopped dead still several times all the way to Birmingham. It wasn't just bottlenecked in Montgomery (which it is most days anyway) but all the way. At 6AM from the Mobile/Baldwin county lines to Montgomery, all lanes of I-65 will be northbound. Watching the local news, I-10 West was bumper to bumper this afternoon. Part of the problem is the interstate goes through the Wallace Tunnel. For some reason, people start hitting their brakes when they see the tunnel and ride them all the way through. It really screws up traffic.

If you think of it early enough and you're heading back east on I-10, get off just after you exit the tunnel going east and get on the causeway. Locals know the trick. It gets you off I-10 and the bayway traffic. Stay on it through Spanish Fort and turn follow the signs back to I-10. It's much quicker that way. If there's a wreck on the bayway, you're stopped for hours.

[mtm4319]

The traffic in BR is always terrible. I don't want to get bashed for this, but yall over in Florida and Alabama might want to evacuate to New Orleans. We've got like 30,000 hotel rooms, and it is beginning to look like we're gonna be ok. You'd even be out of the hurricane watch area. A little risky, but I bet it'd be a good move.

Right now, this looks like a very not-good idea.