Fire damages Spillway track

Published 12:01 am Wednesday, February 17, 2016

NORCO — The Bonnet Carre Spillway Road is open, St. Charles Parish officials announced Monday. They also cautioned travelers all recreational areas in the spillway remained closed due to high river water.

Helicopters respond Saturday to a fire in the Bonnet Carre spillway. (Constance Woods/L’OBSERVATEUR)

Helicopters respond Saturday to a fire in the Bonnet Carre spillway. (Constance Woods/L’OBSERVATEUR)

Caution and rebuilding comes in the wake of a Saturday fire in the Bonnet Carre spillway.

St. Charles Parish Emergency Operations Center staff and multiple agencies responded to the fire, that was extinguished Saturday.

Throughout the response, local officials stressed there were no off-site impacts, and those in the public were not advised to take any protective measures.

Backed up traffic along Interstate 10 was a negative result of the blaze that damaged part of the Spillway railroad.

Canadian National Railway announced the bridge should be repaired by next week.

The company announced 400 to 800 feet of track were destroyed as a result of the blaze. Business and passenger train routinely use the track. Officials with Port of New Orleans and Amtrack have been rerouting traffic since Saturday.