WAFB 9 News Baton Rouge, Louisiana News, Weather, SportsBig rig shuts down I-12 twice in a week

"Common sense" is what State Police say drivers need to use on the road after yet another traffic-crippling accident.

Again, it involves an 18-wheeler on I-12 right in the construction zone near O'Neal Lane.

For the second time in a week, the I-12 gridlock has had commuters just sitting in traffic for hours.

"It's miserable," said Rob Watson, commuter stuck in traffic. "I started on Airline. It's been an hour so from Airline to here (Millerville), it's been about an hour."

"Two hours. I've been sitting here for two hours," said James Black, commuter stuck in traffic.

It's a scene that's becoming all too familiar for drivers trying to cross between East Baton Rouge and Livingston parishes.

"They should do something better than this here. I got to get a load somewhere and I'm stuck here, I can't make my money like this here," said Black.

"It's been like this for so long. I just deal with it. I don't know what they could do to fix it," said Watson.

State Police said just around 3 p.m. Tuesday, an 18-wheeler, that was following another big rig too closely, jackknifed between two barriers trying to maneuver the "S" curve in the construction zone on I-12 East around the O'Neal Lane exit

Last Tuesday, on I-12 W, another semi overturned after hitting the barrier in the construction zone. The result? A nightmare for drivers.

"I have to slow down. I have to do the truck route, and I have to make sure I'm in the right now. They need to fix it up," said Black.

Which is where Geaux Wider's Bill Grass comes in -- public awareness about the construction projects on the interstate.

"If they're trying to go through that "S" curve at 60-70 mph, somebody's going to lose control, swerve, cross over the center line or cross over a line," said Grass.

Capt. Doug Cain with State Police said they evaluate every crash to find out what happened and what they can do differently. In many cases, there's only so much they can do.

"We've ramped up enforcement through construction zones. We've worked with DOTD to get more messaging, more signage out and they've done that," said Cain.

In the end though, it all comes down to the drivers.

"When you're traveling through a stretch of roadway that's under construction that may possibly not have shoulders or possibly has barricades close to the travel lanes, it's common sense that people need to slow down and be extra alert around these areas," said Grass.

The driver of the 18-wheeler was ticketed for following too closely.

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