BIENVILLE PARISH, La. (KSLA) — A train derailment will keep part of a major Louisiana highway closed for possibly a few more days, the state highway department reports.

Bienville Parish Sheriff John Ballance put out word at 7:26 a.m. Friday (March 29) that there has been a train derailment east of Taylor and just east of Slay Woodard Road that involves about 29 railroad cars. No hazardous materials were believed to be involved.

But the sheriff said U.S. Highway 80 between Slay Woodard Road and Martin Pond Road would be closed until further notice.

At 8:58 p.m. Friday, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development reported a section of U.S. 80 in western Bienville Parish was being closed immediately due to the derailment.

The closure of U.S. 80 between Oscar Kilpatrick Road and Martin Pond Road in Ada was necessary to allow the railroad company to mobilize equipment in order to begin clean-up operations, LaDOTD reported.

“Access to Oscar Kilpatrick Road and Martin (Pond) Road will be maintained during the closure. At this time, there is no estimated time frame for reopening the roadway.”

On Sunday (March 31), LaDOTD spokeswoman Erin Buchanan said that the roadway is still closed.

“Apparently, the train was hauling new vehicles, and those all have to be cleaned up and moved as part of the operations,” she said. “It may be a few more days before US 80 can be reopened.”

Copyright 2024 KSLA. All rights reserved.