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Railroad and highway closures in Ascension Parish cause unusually heavy traffic

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PRAIRIEVILLE - The railroad crossing at La. 73 near Airline Highway will likely be closed until Thursday afternoon and drivers should expect evening and morning delays in Ascension Parish.

The railroad company is doing work on its tracks and requires the highway be closed.  DOTD has been alerting drivers of the ongoing progress.

Originally scheduled to be open by 5 p.m. Wednesday, a mechanical issue at the worksite delayed the crossing being open until Thursday at 2 p.m. 

DOTD posted this warning:

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development advises motorists that on Wednesday, January 22, 2020 starting at 7:00 a.m., LA 73 (Old Jefferson Highway) near its intersection with US 61 (Airline Highway.) in Ascension Parish will be closed.  This road closure is scheduled to take place until 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 23, 2020 and is necessary to allow KCS Railroad to perform maintenance on its tracks.

Plan for delays.  Click HERE for a live traffic map from WBRZ.

The railroad closure caused chaotic traffic congestion in parts of Ascension Wednesday morning. 

Other Wednesday closures included Highway 74, New River Street and Ascension Street. 

Additionally, the city of Baton Rouge announced two different spots on College Drive and Pecue Lane will be closed for roadwork from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday.

A full list of closures to expect from Jan. 20 to Jan. 25 are listed below: 

-January 21- Post Office Road and Duplessis Road

-January 22- Highway 73, Highway 74, New River Street, and Ascension Street

-January 23- Coolidge Ave., Felix Ave., and Purpera Road

-January 24- Highway 30, Railroad Street (Sorrento)

-January 25- Highway 621, College Drive @ Perkins, Pecue Lane @ Perkins

Most of these closures are expected to last from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m., each day and are necessary to allow KCS Railroad to perform maintenance on its tracks.

Closures of crossings in East Baton Rouge are expected in the future but those have not been scheduled, a railway spokesperson told WBRZ. 

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