Can Road Construction Complicate a Car Accident Claim on Causeway Boulevard?

Road construction can make an already busy road harder to navigate. That is especially true on Causeway Boulevard, where Jefferson Parish is widening the road from four lanes to six between Airline Drive and West Napoleon Avenue. The project is expected to continue through the end of 2027.

That stretch already carries nearly 34,000 northbound vehicles and close to 40,000 southbound vehicles each day. Keeping both directions open while construction is underway means drivers may encounter changing lanes, equipment entering the roadway, temporary closures, and heavier congestion without the road ever fully shutting down.

Construction Can Make a Busy Road Even Harder to Navigate

Causeway Boulevard is one of Jefferson Parish’s major north-south routes. Until construction is complete, drivers may encounter temporary lane shifts or closures, construction equipment, and crews working close to moving traffic.

Even people who drive the road every day may be surprised by changing conditions as the project progresses.

And, as every driver knows, construction inevitably makes everyday congestion worse. Stop-and-go traffic, sudden slowdowns, and drivers trying to merge around work areas can reduce the amount of time everyone has to react.

Equipment and Temporary Closures Can Change Traffic Quickly

Jefferson Parish has said both sides of Causeway will remain open during the project, but short closures may still occur while construction crews move equipment or materials. Larger closures may also be scheduled at night or on weekends.

That means traffic conditions can change quickly. A lane that normally moves freely may suddenly slow, or a driver may need to merge sooner than expected because equipment or construction activity is affecting part of the roadway.

The parish has already used temporary lane and turn-lane closures around the project for drainage work, and drivers should expect more of the same in the coming months.

Construction Can Make Fault Harder to Sort Out After a Car Crash

Contractors do not automatically share fault simply because an accident happens in a construction zone, even if temporary lane changes or unfamiliar traffic patterns contributed to the crash. Drivers are still expected to obey traffic laws and adjust to posted signs, barriers, lane shifts, and other temporary traffic controls.

The contractor may become more relevant if something connected to the work itself contributed to the accident. For example, if an accident occurred because construction equipment entered traffic unsafely, debris was left in the roadway, or traffic controls were improperly placed, the contractor could potentially be liable. Otherwise, the usual issues such as following too closely, speeding, distracted driving, or unsafe merging still apply.

That being said, construction can add questions that would not normally come up after a routine crash.

Was a lane clearly marked? Did traffic have enough warning that lanes were narrowing? Did a temporary closure cause an unexpected backup?

Those details can matter when drivers and insurance companies disagree about what caused the collision.

The Road May Look Different By the Time the Claim Is Investigated

Construction zones can change from one day to the next. Cones may move, lanes may reopen, equipment may be relocated, and temporary signs may disappear.

That makes photographing the scene especially important after a construction-zone crash. Photos of lane markings, barriers, signs, vehicle positions, and nearby equipment may help show what drivers were dealing with at the time rather than what the road looked like days later.

Does It Matter That Causeway Boulevard Is a Public Construction Project?

A contractor working for Jefferson Parish is not automatically protected from liability just because the work is part of a government project. If the contractor itself creates a dangerous condition, leaves debris in the roadway, operates equipment unsafely, or improperly sets up part of the work zone, it can still potentially be held responsible for injuries caused by that negligence.

Claims involving Jefferson Parish or another public agency can be more complicated because different legal rules may apply to government entities. That makes it important to determine whether the problem came from the contractor’s work, a decision made by the public agency, or ordinary driver negligence.

Talk to a Metairie Car Accident Attorney After a Construction-Zone Crash

A crash on Causeway Boulevard during an active construction project may involve more questions than an ordinary accident.



Donald D’Aunoy Jr. represents people injured in car accidents throughout Metairie and Jefferson Parish. If you were injured in a crash on Causeway Boulevard or another local road, contact Lawyer Don at (504) 508-6414 to discuss what happened and what options may be available.