Interstate 310 begins with Louisiana 3127 at a half-diamond interchange with U.S. 90 near Boutte. The interchange has provisions for the eventual southward extension of Interstate 310 to future Interstate 49. As drivers merge onto the freeway northbound from U.S. 90, a pair of road stubs are in place for the future freeway. Photo taken 06/10/06.
A large diagrammatical sign advises motorists of the forthcoming split of Louisiana 3127 north for Donaldsonville from Interstate 310 north. The Exit 10 directional interchange lies 1.5 miles north of U.S. 90. Photo taken 06/10/06.
A two-lane high speed ramp departs from the left of Interstate 310 north for Louisiana 3217 north at Exit 10. Louisiana 3127 follows a multi-lane divided highway northwest eight miles to junction Louisiana 3141 at Killona. From there the state highway veers westward toward Edgard, St. James, and Donaldsonville Photo taken 06/10/06.
Louisiana 3127 departs Interstate 310 northbound at Exit 10. Donaldsonville (pop. 7,605) lies to the northwest along the Mississippi River in Ascension Parish. Louisiana 3127 tallies 44.33 miles between the Ascension Parish line (junction Louisiana 70) and Interstate 310. Photo taken 06/10/06.
Interstate 310 next meets Louisiana 18 (River Road) at Exit 7 and the community of Luling. Louisiana 18 follows the south banks of the Mississippi River westward from Avondale to Montz. Photo taken 06/10/06.
The Hale Boggs Memorial Bridge comes into view on the northbound approach to the Exit 7 "X" stack interchange with Louisiana 18. The interchange joins Interstate 310 with an access road to Louisiana 18 (River Road). Photo taken 06/10/06.
One half mile south of the Exit 7 ramp departure for Louisiana 18 (River Road) on Interstate 310 north. Louisiana 18 travels east into the industrial towns of Luling (pop. 11,512), Lone Star, and Ama. Westward River Road straddles the Mississippi to the St. Charles Parish seat of Hahnville (pop. 2,792), Killona, and the St. John the Baptist seat of Edgard. Photo taken 06/10/06.
Ascending on the Hale Boggs Mississippi River Bridge of Interstate 310 northbound. The span was the first high-level, long-span, cable stayed bridge in the world. The bridge was designed to withstand hurricane force winds up to 200 MPH and travels 1,222 feet from start to finish.1 The concrete roadway of the bridge was refurbished during a construction project in late 1999. Photo taken 06/10/06.
Interchanges exist on both approaches of the cable-stayed Mississippi River Bridge. At the north end of the span, Exit 6 ties Louisiana 48 into Interstate 310. Louisiana 48 is also known as River Road as it straddles the north banks of the Mississippi between metro New Orleans and Norco. Photo taken 06/10/06.
Approaching the south tower of the bridge on Interstate 310 northbound. The Hale Boggs Bridge opened to traffic in 1983 and received the 1984 Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award by the American Society of Engineers. The bridge replaced a ferry service and is located 121.7 miles upstream from the mouth of the Mississippi River.1 Photo taken 06/10/06.
Looking at the north tower of the Interstate 310 bridge. The span was the first element of the freeway to open to traffic in 1983. Photos taken 06/10/06.
Directional ramps link Interstate 310 with Louisiana 48 (River Road) on the northbound descent. River Road straddles the Mississippi River between the communities of Norco (pop. 3,579) and Kenner. Photo taken 06/10/06.
Exit 6 departs Interstate 310 north for Louisiana 48 (River Road) at the city of Destrehan (pop. 11,260). Saint Rose (pop. 6,540) resides just east of the bridge at the junction of Louisiana 50 (Almedia Road). Photo taken 06/10/06.
Interstate 310 enters a long viaduct section two miles south of U.S. 61 (Exit 2). The viaducts continues northward to the junction with Interstate 10. Photo taken 06/10/06.
U.S. 61 (Airline Highway) intersects Interstate 310 southwest of the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport at Kenner. The east-west highway transitions into a busy surface arterial from the freeway east through Jefferson Parish. Westward the federal highway straddles swamplands to LaPlace. Photo taken 06/10/06.
Use U.S. 61 (Airline Highway) south for the New Orleans International Airport terminal and the community of St. Rose (via Louisiana 50 south). The airport lies east of Interstate 310, north of U.S. 61, and south of Interstate 10 in Kenner. Photo taken 06/10/06.
Drawing to within one-half mile of the Exit 2 ramp departure to U.S. 61 (Airline Highway). A massive stack interchange joins the two divided highways above wetlands. U.S. 61 heads five miles west to the industrial town of Norco and 2.5 miles east to the Jefferson Parish line and city of Kenner. Photo taken 06/10/06.
Traffic interests to U.S. 61 (Airline Highway) depart Interstate 310 northbound in unison. High-speed flyover ramps join the Airline Highway below. Interstate 310 meanwhile prepares to meet its northern terminus with Interstate 10 in three miles. Photo taken 06/10/06.
Looking at the high flyover ramps for U.S. 61 (Exit 2) on Interstate 310 northbound. The interchange between the two routes is symmetrical. Photo taken 06/10/06.
The last reassurance shield for Interstate 310 on northbound. The freeway travels 1.8 miles of viaduct between U.S. 61 (Exit 2) and Interstate 10 (Exits 1/1A). The bridges travel over prime tupelo and cypress swamp and thus required a sensitive construction techniques due to the environment below. The $26.2 million project opened in 1992.1 Photo taken 06/10/06.
Diagrammatical overhead one mile south of the Interstate 310 stack interchange with Interstate 10 (Exits 1/1A). The elevated highway of Interstate 310 in conjunction with the next ten miles of Interstate 10 west and the first 23 miles of Interstate 55 compose the longest
continuous elevated highway in the world at 38 miles. Photo taken 06/10/06.
Since the majority of Interstate 310 traffic is headed for the airport and city, two lanes are allocated for the eastbound Interstate 10 ramp (Exit 1A). Traffic departing to the east is quickly greeted with heavy development and prevalent congestion. Westbound Interstate 10 traffic is offered the finest view of the area and stack interchange. Drivers taking the westbound flyover (Exit 1) will not see another interchange for ten miles (Interstate 55 north). Photo taken 06/10/06.
Interstate 10 westbound travels 61 miles to Baton Rouge and junction Interstate 12. Eastward Interstate 10 splits with Interstate 610 in ten miles. Photo taken 06/10/06.
Sweeping high above the swampy waters below is the Interstate 310 northbound flyover to Interstate 10 west. Photo taken 10/23/03.
The Exit 1A off-ramp joins Interstate 10 eastbound ahead of the Exit 221 off-ramp to Loyola Drive in Kenner. A one-mile guide sign advises motorists of the interchange on the Interstate 310 flyover. Photo taken 06/10/06.
Sources:
"Major Bridges of Louisiana." Preconstruction Pages (LADOTD), Volume 2,1.
