From staff reports

LeTourneau Road was closed by Warren County officials at about 8 this morning, putting many of the 1,300 employees who build oil rigs out of work until water from the Mississippi River recedes.

“Yesterday afternoon we had to lay off most of our people simply because we cannot efficiently bring them to work,” said Ronnie Neihaus, a manager for LeTourneau Technologies. “It’s a very hard thing to do, and we’re doing everything we can to keep as many employees on as possible.”

Neihaus said the workers will not be paid while laid off. He said about 135 workers who will be taken by boat daily to the fabrication area, still above water, will continue operations.

Since Monday, LeTourneau had been trucking employees to the yard on a flatbed 18-wheeler because parking lots had flooded and water was encroaching on the road that leads to the riverbank from U.S. 61. The last time LeTourneau was forced to run a skeletal crew because of flooding was in 1997. Neihaus said all employees will be welcomed back to work when the road is reopened by the county.

“We’re optimistic we’ll have them all back in a few weeks when the river comes down, as it’s forecast to do,” he said. A new crest forecast today now expects the river to top out Sunday at 49.3 feet, 6.3 feet above flood stage. About a foot of water was crossing LeTourneau Road this morning from Glass Road west to LeTourneau Landing and the river.

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