Mississippi River Bridge back open after climber comes down
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — The Mississippi River Bridge is back open after a lengthy closure due to a man climbing the bridge’s superstructure.
The West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office said that "around 9 p.m., the Motorist Assistance Patrol observed a vehicle that appeared to be stalled on the westbound side of the I-10 bridge."
The driver of that vehicle fled after he was approached by WBRSO.
The sheriff's office said that the driver turned around close to the base of the bridge and started to drive eastbound.
An attempt was made to stop the vehicle and it did on the eastbound side of the bridge.
That is when the driver got out of their vehicle and started to climb the superstructure, WBRSO said.
The man refused to come down and the bridge was closed soon after.
The closure lasted for over eight hours with traffic being diverted to U.S. Hwy 190.
WBRSO said I-10 eastbound was closed at LA 415 along with LA 1 to I-10 eastbound, and I-10 westbound at I-110.
They said deputies were joined by other members of law enforcement and fire personnel.
The man eventually came down on Tuesday morning and is safe, WBRSO said.
As of 5:45 a.m., all lanes were back open on the Mississippi River Bridge.