US Highway 79 Closed in Caddo Parish as 18 Wheelers Block Icy Lanes

Granted, most of us believed that yesterday's slightly warmer temperatures in North Louisiana would have brought better news regarding the disastrous effects of Winter Storm Fern, but that's just not the full story.

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Caddo, Bossier, Webster and DeSoto Parish schools decided that the deteriorated road conditions warranted cancellation of classes at least one more day, today, Wednesday, January 28.

Scores of additional school systems, along with a great number of governmental agencies and businesses felt likewise about the road conditions and have closed again today. Much of the same is going on in East Texas and Southwest Arkansas counties.

And while many roads look much improved from just a couple of days ago, a number of them are still moving at snail's pace or completely closed.

One of those area roads forced to close is US Highway 79 in Caddo Parish, and according to the Caddo Parish Sheriff's Department, that one has been closed in two places; near Estes Lane in the Bethany, Louisiana area, and the other is at Buncombe Road.

The Caddo Sheriff's Department advises that these closures have occurred because 18-wheelers are unable to navigate the icy road conditions, blocking both the northbound and southbound lanes. Please plan accordingly and expect longer travel times if you need to use this route. The duration of the closures is currently unknown, but we will provide updates as soon as both lanes are reopened.

The lack of an update from the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development would lend us to believe that LA 175 in DeSoto Parish from LA 5 to LA 3015, south of the Kingston community, is also still closed due to winter weather conditions and stalled vehicles blocking the roadway.

And any motorists wishing to travel east of Shreveport/Bossier are being strongly advised by DOTD to avoid traveling on I-20 eastbound from Minden to Arcadia and I-20 westbound from Monroe to Ruston as this area of I-20 is still experiencing severe congestion and slow-moving traffic.

Of course there are many other isolated, unique hazardous traffic conditions that haven't required road closure, so all motorists are still advised to stay home unless travel is totally necessary.