By MOLLY DRYMAN

Staff Reporter

LAPLACE — Louisiana State Police was to conduct a contraflow exercise of the evacuation plan today.

However, due to the potential of the approaching Tropical Storm Cindy, the event was cancelled.

The exercise was due to be along Interstate 10, 55 and 59. There were to be no actual route restrictions or lane closures during the exercise, according to Troop B Public Information Officer Omar Landrum.

Landrum said troopers were to be deployed to the various locations in the evacuation plan in order to familiarize themselves with the duties required to conduct Contraflow.

Those conducting the exercise were to include the Mobile Field Force-1st Platoon, a 50 trooper platoon made up of highly trained troopers from Baton Rouge area Troop A, New Orleans area Troop B, Houma area Troop C and Northshore area Troop L.

There were also to be troop supervisors from Troop B and Troop L conducting the exercise, according to Landrum.

Landrum said the contraflow on Interstate 10 going west from Metairie to LaPlace and on Interstate 10 going east from New Orleans to Slidell and on to Interstate 59 in Mississippi were to be conducted in the morning hours.

The Interstate 12 going west from Covington to Hammond and on to Interstate 55 going to Mississippi were to be conducted in the afternoon hours, he said.