últimas notícias

Parts of Interstate 10 remain closed in Louisiana and Texas because of flooding related to Imelda, traffic officials said Friday morning.

In Louisiana, I-10 westbound is closed from exit 4 to the Louisiana-Texas state line, Louisiana DOTD said Friday morning. Louisiana Highway 12 westbound also is closed from Starks to the Louisiana-Texas state line.

In Texas, I-10 is closed in both directions between Beaumont and Winnie, Texas DOT said on Twitter. There is no estimate when the section of I-10 will reopen.

“We are monitoring and will open as soon as it is safe to do so,” Texas traffic officials said Friday morning.

More than 41 inches of rain fell on I-10 between Winnie and Beaumont in 72 hours from remnants of Tropical Storm Imelda, Texas DOT said Thursday morning.

A major Interstate 10 bridge near Houston also is shut down after several barges broke loose and hit the support structure, according to The Associated Press.

The U.S. Coast Guard says witnesses reported early Friday that nine barges had broken away from their moorings at a shipyard. The Coast Guard says at least two of the barges struck the Interstate 10 bridge over the San Jacinto River at Channelview, about 15 miles east of Houston.

The bridge has to be inspected before it can be reopened.

On its website, Texas DOT said the following roads are closed due to flooding:

– Interstate 10 in both directions between Beaumont and Winnie

– Interstate 10 in both directions from Winnie to Mont Belvieu

– Highway 12 in both directions from Texas/Louisiana state line to Vidor

If the road is flooded, drivers are cautioned to turn around and seek an alternate route.

See current Texas road conditions via DriveTexas.org.

See current road conditions in Louisiana via 511la.org.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.