Louisiana Highway 1

Overview

Louisiana Highway 1, also called LA 1, is a long road that runs through the state of Louisiana. It is the longest numbered road in the state, stretching for about 431.88 miles or 695.04 kilometers. The highway runs in a diagonal direction, linking places where oil and gas fields are found near Grand Isle to the northwest part of the state, close to Shreveport.

Important Sections

Some parts of LA 1 are very important for travel. The section south of U.S. Highway 90 near Raceland is known as Corridor 44 and is part of a big road system called the National Highway System.

Between New Roads, Louisiana and Alexandria, Louisiana, LA 1 is also part of a special road called the Zachary Taylor Parkway.

From Alexandria to Shreveport, the path of LA 1 was once used for another major road called Interstate 49.

Route description

Louisiana Highway 1, or LA 1, is the longest highway in Louisiana. It starts at the town of Grand Isle and goes northwest to near Shreveport. The road begins at a small ending in Grand Isle and travels across the state.

As it goes, LA 1 passes many towns and important places. It follows rivers and smaller roads, connecting places like Thibodaux, Baton Rouge, and Alexandria. Near Alexandria, the highway meets bigger roads before continuing to Shreveport. Finally, LA 1 reaches Shreveport and then goes toward the border with Texas, where it becomes a different highway called State Highway 77.

History

LA 1 started as the Jefferson Highway and runs across Louisiana. It begins near Pointe-a-la-Hache and goes through many small towns to New Orleans. From New Orleans, it follows roads like St. Charles Avenue and Canal Street, then continues north along the Mississippi_River.

From Baton_Rouge to Alexandria, the highway used old roads and ferries. It then goes through Alexandria and Pineville before heading north to Shreveport. Finally, it crosses into Texas. All these roads were officially named LA 1 in 1955 when Louisiana updated its highway system.

Future

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development is working to improve Louisiana Highway 1 between Golden Meadow and Port Fourchon. They are building an elevated toll expressway called the Louisiana Highway 1 Bridge. This helps people leave Port Fourchon and Grand Isle quickly if a big storm comes, because the road can flood easily.

When finished, the Gateway to the Gulf Expressway will be a 19-mile-long elevated road from Golden Meadow to the Gulf of Mexico. Drivers now pay at a toll plaza when they enter the expressway. They can use cash, credit or debit cards, or an electronic toll device called "GeauxPass". The first part of the project, a small bridge, opened in 2009, and more sections are still being built. Plans include making the whole road wider in the future.

Major intersections

Special routes

In Natchitoches, LA 1 Bus. runs along the old path of LA 1 before it was moved to a bypass in 1975. This part of the road is entirely in Natchitoches Parish.

In New Roads, LA 1 Bus. follows the old route of LA 1 through the town center before it was moved in 2010. This change happened when the new John James Audubon Bridge over the Mississippi River was built. This section of the road is entirely in Pointe Coupee Parish.