Winter Driving Warning: Icy Roads Possible in Shreveport

Whether you're driving in Shreveport, Bossier or any of Louisiana, you've seen the signs - "Bridge freezes before road surface". And, there's probably a pretty good chance that, much like me, you've completely ignored those signs. Let's be honest here: how many times do we really see legit freezing temps in North Louisiana? Maybe a day or three a year?

Well, unlike a normal year, we've seen sustained cold weather multiple times this winter - with the latest cold snap happening this week. Which means those signs on the overpasses and bridges are a lot more important than they have been in the past.

Arctic Blast Brings Freezing Temps to Shreveport

In case you haven't been outside lately or looked at the forecast for the week, it's darn cold! Temps are expected to drop into the teens and 20s over the next couple of days with a chance of precipitation. Right now, that precipitation is said to be rain. BUT, under these weather conditions, you can never rule out a wintery mix of some kind.

Unfortunately, wetness & freezing temps don't mix well.  Without proper preparations, it could damage your home. Without proper dress, it could lead to a ton of health issues. It can impact your vehicle - killing your battery, freezing up fluids, etc.. In short, these types of weather conditions can cause a lot of problems.

However, the one thing I haven't seen a lot of folks talking about is what these conditions can have on road conditions. A lot of folks think as long as there's no snow or freezing rain, the roads are going to be fine. But that's not exactly the case. When it's cold and there's any kind of moisture in the air, bad things can happen.

Beware of Hazardous Driving Conditions in Shreveport-Bossier

READ MORE: Biggest Snowfalls in Louisiana History

Because as noted in the first sentence of this story, bridges & overpasses are the first to freeze and could be dangerous even when regular roads aren't. Why is that? The short answer: science. To put it simply - unlike surface roads, a bridge is losing heat from every side. So while surface roads maybe warm enough to prevent ice from forming, bridges are not because they have no way to trap heat in the ground. You add in moisture from rain, and you have a recipe for disaster if you're not careful.

Simply put, because of the reasons mentioned above, bridges/overpasses basically are the same temperature as the air - which means if it's 15 degrees out, the bridge you're driving over is pretty much the same temp. So any moisture in the area could potentially freeze. And precipitation could freeze. Heck, even condensation from your vehicle could freeze on the roadway to create a dangerous situation. Which is why pretty much every bridge/overpass is equipped with a  "Bridge freezes before road surface" sign.

At this time, I haven't seen any updates from DOTD that they're going to prepare for icy conditions. But, with or without help from DOTD, you should use extreme caution driving tomorrow - specifically at night and on any morning commute before temperatures get out of the teens.

Winter Tips For Driving in Shreveport-Bossier

There's an old saying up north and it's absolutely true - NOBODY CAN DRIVE ON ICE. It's a fact. Many people have tried, most have ended up in a ditch or worse. But, with that said, there are some things you can do on the roadways to make sure you're safe and that you don't end up crashing if you do run into a patch of ice somewhere.

If you don't pay attention to anything else I wrote today, please take this advice to heart. Especially when going over any bridge or overpass while temps are well below 32 degrees tomorrow:

• Slow Down. It's called black ice for a reason - if there's any on a bridge or overpass, 99% chance it'll just blend in with the road and you won't see it. Slowing down and being cautious can help you avoid most issues.
• No sudden movements. If you hit a patch of ice, the worst thing you can do is make a sudden movement - jerking the steering wheel, slamming on the brakes, anything like that. Keep a couple car lengths between you and the car ahead of you, so you can gradually make a move if it's needed.
• If you feeling like you're floating, that means you've hit a patch of ice. Don't slam on the breaks or make any sudden moves. Hold steady and take your foot off the accelerator until you've regained control. If you do start sliding, SLOWLY steer away from the slide. Again, no sudden movements.

A little extra caution can go a long way. Do I think it's going to be awful and undriveable? No. I think we should be ok. But, it never hurts to be prepared and to leave for work a few minutes early just to be sure.