About an hour drive away from New Orleans, the 47th Annual Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival is being held April 13-15.
If you're driving, give yourself plenty of time.
Over 300,000 visitors are expected in the downtown Ponchatoula area over the course of the weekend.
Louisiana State Police issued an official traffic advisory ahead of this weekend's annual Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival, April 13-15.
Increased traffic can quickly overload surrounding interstates and cause dangerous back-ups from congested off-ramps.
To help improve the flow of traffic and ensure a safe festival weekend, Troop L urges motorists to follow the following alternate route advisories when entering and leaving the Ponchatoula area:
From Baton Rouge: Exit Interstate 12 Eastbound at Pumpkin Center exit #35, proceed south to LA 22, then continue east on LA 22 into Ponchatoula.
From Covington / Slidell: Exit Interstate 12 Westbound at LA 445 exit #47, proceed south to LA 22, then continue west on LA 22 into Ponchatoula.
From Mandeville: Take LA 22 west into Ponchatoula.
From New Orleans area: Take the Causeway Bridge into Mandeville and proceed to LA 22 west into Ponchatoula.
State Police will be working with local law enforcement throughout the weekend to keep impaired drivers off the roads. Troopers said they will focus on driving while intoxicated, motorists and occupants not wearing seat belts, unrestrained children in vehicles, distracted driving, and any aggressive driving behaviors such as speeding and following too close.
To report impaired drivers or unsafe roadway conditions, dial *LSP (*577).
