A portion of Interstate 49 through DeSoto Parish will be closed Friday and Monday nights as teams of workers move mining equipment across the highway.

Beginning Friday night about 10pm, a number of heavy trucks and other specialty equipment will begin moving across the highway. The work should be completed by 6am Saturday. On Monday evening a 4,000 ton, 20 story drag line excavator will be moved across the interstate. The Monday move will also begin about 10pm and be wrapped up by 6am Tuesday. Both equipment moves will take place between mile markers 161 and 163.

Northbound traffic on I-49 will be detoured to LA 174 east from exit 155. I-49 southbound traffic will be detoured to US 371 east from exit 162. The Louisiana DOTD says that numerous detour signs will be in place.

The equipment being moved is owned by AEP Swepco and is used at the Dolet Hills lignite mine near Mansfield.

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