UPDATE 8:55am: Fog and smoke lift, all roads closed this morning are reopen
Authorities made the call early this morning to close roads and highways impacted by fog and smoke from a wildfire in New Orleans East.
"The NOPD, along with DOTD and Louisiana State Police, has closed... sections of Interstate 10 due to fog/smoke and extreme low visibility," New Orleans Police Spokeswoman Karen Boudrie said in an email.
The closure was in both directions amid what officials said was zero viability.
"I-10 from Irish Bayou to 510 into New Orleans Eastbound & Westbound."
A short time later she advised, "The NOPD & DOTD have now shut down Highway 11 in both directions due to deteriorating conditions."
Drivers in the detour off the I-10 to US 90 told us traffic was barely moving.
"One hour later, still haven't moved on 90," one person texted at 6:15am.
Another said, "highway 90 at a complete standstill."
"Chef is dead stop smoke smell bad," another listener advised.
Boudrie later emailed about another closure, saying, "I-510 Northbound is now closed."
That's heading from Chalmette into New Orleans East.
With all of the overflow traffic taking the Causeway across Lake Pontchartrain, bridge officials announced, "Causeway is open and visibilities are good at present. At sunrise, tolls were suspended. Traffic volume is exceptionally heavy so it is imperative to be extremely careful driving this morning."
All of this comes a day after a deadly crash that closed the I-10 for hours and hours in New Orleans East amid dense fog and smoke.
