People who want to witness the demolition of the Hertz Tower — the former Capital One Tower — on Saturday, Sept. 7, need to know they won’t be able to do that from just anywhere. Lake Charles Police Chief Shawn Caldwell and Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Stitch Guillory said multiple law enforcement departments will be out in force to ensure public safety when the tower comes down.
The time for the implosion is tentatively set for 8 a.m.; however, the exclusion zone will be enforced beginning at 6:30 a.m.
Expect heavy traffic and leave yourself plenty of time, Guillory recommended.
“It will be unlawful to be outside in the exclusion zone from 6:30 a.m. until the building falls,” Caldwell said.
That means people who live within the zone, or are working in the area at 6:30 a.m. must be inside a building — not on a balcony, roof, sidewalk, or in an open garage, etc.
No one will be allowed into the exclusion zone after 6:30 a.m. until the building falls.
LCPD will lead law enforcement on land. On water, the Calcasieu Sheriff’s Office is in charge and will work with the U.S. Coast Guard and Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries.
Caldwell described the exclusion zone as “roughly” from the water to the south side of the Events Center. It goes up Lakeshore a short bit, down to Pujo Street, up a little piece of Broad Street to the east and continues up Ryan to Price streets and then out into the lake.
Do not plan to watch from an Interstate 10 shoulder, he warned.
At the Aug. 21 ,meeting, the City Council is slated to adopt the ordinance to designate the exclusion zone as identified by the demolition contractor.
Immediately after the building comes down, street by street will be cleared of rubble, and after one street is cleaned, it will be opened, starting with streets farther away from the tower and working in.
The waterway exclusion area marked by buoys might take longer to open. Violating laws on the water could result in a $100 to $1,000 forfeiture, Guillory said.
Caldwell said there are multiple public places where people can watch the demolition and some private spaces.
“You have to respect those private property owners, and the public places would be first come, first serve,” Caldwell said.
“When you think of an event like this, nothing like this has ever happened in the city of Lake Charles,” Guillory said. “For some people, this is a once-in-a-lifetime event. People are excited, and I’m sure there are going to be a lot of people that would like to get up close. We’re not out to make any enemies. We’re out there to keep the public safe. It’s our duty and our responsibility.”
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