Old Baker Zachary Road Closing for Comite Diversion Project

Portion of road to shut down permanently starting March 2 for flood control construction

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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A stretch of Old Baker Zachary Road in Zachary, Louisiana will be permanently closed starting March 2, 2026 to allow for construction on the Comite River Diversion project. The closure will impact a segment between Spur Lane and a point about 3,000 feet south of Kirkwood Lane, cutting off a key north-south route for drivers. Residents will be directed to use alternate roads to access LA-19 during the closure, which is tied to excavation and bridge work for the flood control initiative.

Why it matters

The Comite River Diversion is a major flood mitigation project designed to reroute water away from the Amite River during high-flow events. The closure of Old Baker Zachary Road is a necessary step to allow heavy construction on one segment of the 12-mile diversion channel, but will disrupt travel patterns for local residents and commuters who rely on the road.

The details

The permanent closure of Old Baker Zachary Road will cover the segment between Spur Lane and a point about 3,000 feet south of Kirkwood Lane. Residents north of Kirkwood Lane will be directed to travel north on Old Baker Zachary Road to New Weis Road to reach LA-19, while those south of Spur Lane will be told to head south on Old Baker Zachary Road to Heck Young Road or Twin Oaks Drive. The closure is tied to excavation and bridge construction for Comite River Diversion Channel Segment 2B, which is part of the larger flood control project.

  • The permanent closure of Old Baker Zachary Road will take effect on March 2, 2026.

The players

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District

The federal agency overseeing the Comite River Diversion project and coordinating the closure of Old Baker Zachary Road.

WAFB

A local television station that reported on the road closure and detour information.

WBRZ

Another local television station that covered the news of the Old Baker Zachary Road closure.

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What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This road closure highlights the significant infrastructure changes underway in the Baton Rouge region to improve flood resilience, but also the disruptions these projects can cause for local residents and commuters who will need to adjust their travel patterns accordingly.