Traffic Alert: Roads closed after bricks fall from New Orleans CBD building

NEW ORLEANS – Portions of O’Keefe Avenue were closed by New Orleans Police Department and New Orleans Fire Department crews Saturday, Dec. 14, due to construction bricks and debris falling from the facade of a building.

The closure includes O’Keefe from Girod Street to Lafayette Street and Lafayette Street from O’Keefe to Baronne Avenue, which was cordoned off by police at 9 p.m

“A bus or large vehicle could be traveling down the road, the vibration alone could potentially cause more damage, more debris to fall and possibly collapse,” NOFD spokesman Capt. Edwin Holmes said. “What we want to do now is make sure everyone is out of danger until this incident can be properly investigated.”

The building is located at 938 Lafayette Street and houses the Helis Foundation John Scott Center. Renovations were carried out on the outside of the building last month.

The Helis Foundation John Scott Center is a 6,000-square-foot art museum that includes a contemporary art gallery and event space on the first floor of the building.

The NOFD said the building is currently unoccupied and that there were few, if any, people in the building at the time of their arrival.

As an ongoing safety precaution, police have blocked both vehicle and pedestrian traffic in all directions within a one-block radius.

“We request that this area of ​​downtown be avoided until further notice,” NOFD said in a media release after 10:30 p.m. “Entergy Gas and Electric are also assisting in containing this incident.”

This is a developing story.

Check back for more updates.

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