A section of one of north Louisiana’s major north/south highways is temporarily closed after a water main failure inside city limits in the town of Sibley.
Officials with the state Department of Transportation and Development said U.S. Hwy. 371 was closed Thursday while repairs are being made to a water line beneath the roadway. Location of the break is roughly one-half mile south of the intersection with LA Hwy. 164 in front of Country Market store.
Crews began removing surface asphalt from the roadway shortly after the road was completely closed around 3:45 p.m. Although no time line was set, work will continue until the repairs are completed, Sibley town officials said.
While work is underway, heavy commercial vehicles (18-wheelers, etc.) will be detoured onto LA Hwy. 164 on the north side; LA Hwy. 531 on the south. Local traffic is being detoured onto neighborhood streets on the eastern side of Hwy. 371 inside the town limits. Signage is set to identify the detour routes.
Town officials said detoured traffic will be heavy at times and have requested that motorists proceed cautiously through neighborhoods.
Webster Parish deputies will join Sibley’s police department to provide safety during repairs.