Gridlock as SWLA residents evacuate ahead of Hurricane Delta

LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) - The streets and interstates leading out of Southwest Louisiana are at a crawl as residents are attempting to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Delta.

Mandatory evacuations have been issued for Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron and Jeff Davis parishes.

Google Maps shows heavy westbound traffic from Lake Charles all the way to the Texas state line.

Google maps show gridlock at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8 as Southwest Louisiana residents... — Google maps show gridlock at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8 as Southwest Louisiana residents evacuate ahead of Hurricane Delta.(Google Maps)

In addition, there is gridlock throughout the streets of Lake Charles as residents attempt to get on the interstate.

KPLC received numerous questions from viewers about why contraflow was not put into effect. Here is what state police told us:

“We no longer have contraflow in Southwest Louisiana because we don’t encourage motorists to go west in case Texas also has evacuations. We encourage people to take the many northern routes, such as I-49, US 165 or US 171.”

Suggested Hurricane Evacuation Routes by the Louisiana Department of Transportation. — Suggested Hurricane Evacuation Routes by the Louisiana Department of Transportation.(Louisiana Department of Transportation)

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