NEW ORLEANS — Dense fog combined with smoke from marsh fires caused major problems for commuters Monday morning.
The problem with visibility was so bad it caused officials to close the Causeway Bridge in both directions for nearly two and a half hours, between 6:30 a.m. and 9 a.m.
The Causeway has since reopened.
“Causeway open single lane, 35 mph, both north and southbound. Visibility is still less than 500’ in some areas. Please ask drivers to be very careful,” said Causeway Commissioner Carlton Dufrechou said.
WWL-TV Meteorologist Alexa Trischler said that visibility is currently zero over the lake and that the situation may not improve until 9 or 10 a.m. Visibility is also poor coming in from New Orleans East where a combination of the marsh fire and dense fog has visibility also limited. There are also issues with fog on the Crescent City Connection, though traffic is usually slow due to rush hour commuting.
Traffic Reporter Colleen Seeley said the backup headed toward the Causeway was substantial with some commuters not discovering that the span is closed until they get there and then have to turn around, slowing things further, until the span opened.
Video showed the thick haze from a marsh fire mixed with the fog in New Orleans East and fog across the skyline of the city.
The marsh fire broke out last week and has burned about 200 acres of marshland. Firefighters say that the fire is about 70% contained.
The smoke and fog caused school buses to run about an hour and a half late according to an alert to parents from Inspire Nola Charter Schools.
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