Bridges Pose Risk as Shreveport Temperatures Plummet

Whether you're driving in Shreveport, Bossier or any of North Louisiana, you've seen the signs - "Bridge freezes before road surface". And, if you're anything like me, you've probably completely ignored those signs. Because, let's be honest, how many times do we really see legit freezing temps in North Louisiana? Maybe a day or two a year?

Well, unlike a normal year, we've seen sustained cold for a couple of weeks now. Which means those signs on the overpasses and bridges are a lot more important than they have been in the past.

Arctic Blast Brings Freezing Temps to Shreveport

In case you haven't been outside lately, it's darn cold! Highs have been in the mid-30s. Lows have been in the mid-20s. And tonight/tomorrow (allegedly) is going to be the worst of it. Temps are expected to drop in the very low 20s or high teens. There's also a  chance of some winter precipitation. Basically, for us, this is an 'extreme' weather event.

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Which could cause all kinds of problems. Without proper preparations, it could damage your home. Without proper dress, it could lead to a ton of health issues. And a lot of people are talking about this.

However, the one thing I haven't seen a lot of folks talking about is the impact it could have on road conditions. A lot of folks think as long as there's no snow or freezing rain, the roads are going to be fine. But that's not exactly the case.

Beware of Hazardous Driving Conditions in Shreveport-Bossier

If you drive on surface roads, you can pretty much ignore everything I have to say. There's a 20% chance of snow, which means it's highly unlikely that any surface roads are going to be hazardous to drive on. BUT, if you take any bridges or overpasses to get to work or home, you may want to listen up.

READ MORE: Biggest Snowfalls in Louisiana History

Because as noted above, bridges & overpasses are the first to freeze and could be dangerous even when regular roads aren't. Why is that? The short answer: science. To put it simply - unlike surface roads, a bridge is losing heat from every side. So while surface roads maybe warm enough to prevent ice from forming, bridges are not because they have no way to trap heat in the ground.

Simply put, because of the reasons mentioned above, bridges/overpasses basically are the same temperature as the air - which means if it's 15 degrees out, the bridge you're driving over is pretty much the same temp. So any moisture in the area could potentially freeze. And precipitation could freeze. Heck, even condensation from your vehicle could freeze on the roadway to create a dangerous situation. Which is why pretty much every bridge/overpass is equipped with a  "Bridge freezes before road surface" sign.

Luckily for us, DOTD is treating the majority of bridges and overpasses in the state in preparation for the unusually extreme arctic blast. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't use caution and be safe.

Winter Tips For Driving in Shreveport-Bossier

There's an old saying up north and it's absolutely true - NOBODY CAN DRIVE ON ICE. It's a fact. Many people have tried, most have ended up in a ditch or worse. But, with that said, there are some things you can do on the roadways to make sure you're safe and that you don't end up crashing if you do run into a patch of ice somewhere.

If you don't pay attention to anything else I wrote today, please take this advice to heart. Especially when going over any bridge or overpass while temps are well below 32 degrees tomorrow:

• Slow Down. It's called black ice for a reason - if there's any on a bridge or overpass, 99% chance it'll just blend in with the road and you won't see it. Slowing down and being cautious can help you avoid most issues.
• No sudden movements. If you hit a patch of ice, the worst thing you can do is make a sudden movement - jerking the steering wheel, slamming on the brakes, anything like that. Keep a couple car lengths between you and the car ahead of you, so you can gradually make a move if it's needed.
• If you feeling like you're floating, that means you've hit a patch of ice. Don't slam on the breaks or make any sudden moves. Hold steady and take your foot off the accelerator until you've regained control. If you do start sliding, SLOWLY steer away from the slide. Again, no sudden movements.

A little extra caution can go a long way. Do I think it's going to be awful and undriveable? No. I think we should be ok. But, it never hurts to be prepared and to leave for work a few minutes early just to be sure.