Portions of two interstates have reopened after being closed recently because of flooding and a rock slide, respectively.
The eastbound lanes of Interstate 20 in Louisiana were reopened Friday, March 11, after flooding forced them to be shut down earlier in the week. A 25-mile stretch of westbound I-20, however, remained closed between Arcadia and Menden.
Parts of Louisiana received more than 23 inches of rain. The Weather Channel called the flash flooding “historic.” According to ABC News, the floods left at least three people dead. The Louisiana National Guard deployed about 400 guard members with high-water vehicles and boats to assist in search-and-rescue operations in northern Louisiana.
More rain was expected this weekend in Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee.
The National Weather Service projects that heavy rainfall will continue to produce dangerous flash flooding over portions of the Gulf Coast states through Saturday.
“Further west, flash flooding will be possible over portions of California as a series of Pacific cold fronts move through the area over the next several days,” the National Weather Service said.
The southbound lanes of I-75 in northern Tennessee were reopened after being shut down by a rock slide about two weeks ago. Meanwhile, the northbound lanes remained closed. The Tennessee Department of Transportation hopes to have one northbound lane open by March 24 and the entire interstate open by April 15.
Until then, it is suggested that motorists traveling I-75 take Exit 134 as a detour. Follow U.S. 25 East and enter I-75 at Exit 29 in Kentucky.
