Busy I-20 Shreveport Exit Ramp to be Closed a Full Week
If your commute to or from work includes a trip off the I-20 westbound exit ramp onto Highway 80 or Bert Kouns Industrial Loop in Shreveport, you'll need to start planning your detour for next week.
According to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, Exit 8 of I-20 westbound in Caddo Parish is set to be closed to all traffic beginning Monday, May 16 at 9:00 am and will stay closed until 4:00 pm on Monday, May 23.
Traffic will need to detour to Exit 5 while this work is taking place.
Crews will be building a diversion cross-over to accommodate traffic during overpass repairs so the DOTD has deemed it necessary to fully close the exit ramp during this time.
The upcoming overpass repairs, which are tentatively scheduled to begin next month, in June, 2022, are necessary after DOTD bridge inspectors discovered damaged bridge girders during a routine inspection. The damage was a result of an illegal over-height load traveling westbound on I-20 striking the bridge.
The bridge is currently load posted at five tons, meaning no vehicles heavier than five tons can legally cross until repairs can be made. This posting is in the interest of the safety of the traveling public.
While the bridge repairs are underway, traffic will be detoured around the work area using the westbound ramp and diversion cross-over.