re: Section of river road downtown closed.

No, we closed this section of roadway from State Capitol Drive to North Third Street from water backing up onto the roadway and also from the Water Table pressure.

Sight seeing issues are everywhere and we can't help that. However, that is NOT why we closed this portion of River Rd.

The closures were necessary for high water flood protection and prevention activities from the high stage of the Mississippi River. Catch Basins and manholes in the area were covered with visqueen and sandbags to prevent flood water from flowing from the subsurface drainage structures into the roadway. The Baton Rouge River Station Gage was at 41.5’ and within 2’ of the top of some of the catch basin grates at the time of closure.

This will remain closed throughout the ENTIRE duration of the high water event well into the month of June.