The Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival starts later today, and the city's police department says it's ready for the influx of tourists that will descend upon the city.
In fact, Ponchatoula police chief Bry Layrisson says he expects the city's population to see a massive increase during the three days of the festival.
"Definitely over 200,000," Layrisson responded when asked how many tourists he expects to come to this year's festival, 25 times more than the city's population of around 8,000.
Layrisson says all of his officers will be working during the festival, noting that his department will be getting help from other local, regional, and state law enforcement agencies. In all, more than 100 officers will be working the festival.
"We plan, plan, train, prepare, but none of it can be done without the partnerships we have with several different agencies and first responders throughout the whole of South Louisiana," Layrisson said.
Layrisson says the big crowds will cause traffic tie ups in the city, but not along Interstate 12 or Interstate 55.
"If you're not coming to the festival, you definitely don't want to travel through Ponchatoula on Highway 22," Layrisson said. "Pretty much the northwest quadrant of the city within the area of the park, that will not be allowed to outside traffic. If you're coming from out of town, avoid trying to enter those streets from 8th Street all the way to Railroad Avenue."
According to Louisiana State Police, these are the best routes to take if you're going to the Strawberry Festival:
From Baton Rouge: Exit Interstate 12 Eastbound at Pumpkin Center exit #35, proceed south to LA 22, then continue east on LA 22 into Ponchatoula.
From Covington / Slidell: Exit Interstate 12 Westbound at LA 445 exit #47, proceed south to LA 22, then continue west on LA 22 into Ponchatoula.
From Mandeville: Take LA 22 west into Ponchatoula.
From New Orleans: Take the Causeway Bridge into Mandeville and proceed to LA 22 west into Ponchatoula.
