Interstate 310 departs Interstate 10 from an elevated stack interchange over wetlands west of the Jefferson Parish line. Elevated lanes continue Interstate 310 south to a point two miles south of Exit 2 (U.S. 61). The Interstate 310 viaduct in conjunction with Interstate 10 between Exits 210 (Interstate 55) and 220 (Interstate 310), and the southernmost 23 miles of Interstate 55 represent the longest continuously elevated highway in the world at 38 miles. Photo taken 06/10/06.
The first southbound interchange of Interstate 310 is the symmetrical stack with U.S. 61 (Airline Highway). Exit 2 serves the community of Saint Rose (pop. 6,540) via nearby Louisiana 50 (Almedia Road) and Louisiana 626 (Saint Rose Avenue). Photo taken 06/10/06.
One mile north of the Exit 2 stack interchange with U.S. 61 (Airline Highway). U.S. 61 enters Jefferson Parish and the city of Kenner two miles to the east near Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. Photo taken 06/10/06.
Drawing to within one half mile of the Exit 2 off-ramp to U.S. 61 (Airline Highway) on Interstate 310 south. U.S. 61 once shared pavement with U.S. 65 from Natchez, Mississippi southward to New Orleans. Photo taken 06/10/06.
Interstate 310 southbound at the ramp departure of Exit 2. The Airline Highway carries U.S. 61 from Tulane Avenue in New Orleans westward to Kenner (pop. 70,517) and Norco (pop. 3,579). U.S. 61 continues along the Airline Highway to Gramercy (pop. 3,066) and Gonzalez (pop. 8,156)
en route to the capital city of Baton Rouge. Photo taken 06/10/06.
The ramp to U.S. 61 (Airline Highway) partitions into high speed ramps. U.S. 61 travels a divided highway with four lanes throughout the New Orleans metropolitan area. The federal highway travels five miles west to Norco and 11 to Laplace (pop. 27,684). Photo taken 10/23/03.
Viewing some of the high-speed flyovers that join Interstate 310 and U.S. 61 from southbound. The flyovers travel above the wetlands below. Photo taken 06/10/06.
Interstate 310 reassurance marker posted after the U.S. 61 stack interchange. The freeway touches ground within two miles. Photo taken 06/10/06.
The next southbound interchange joins Interstate 310 with Louisiana 48 (River Road) at the city of Destrehan. Louisiana 48 follows the north banks of the Mississippi River from Harahan west to Norco. Photo taken 06/10/06.
Guide signage for Exit 6/Louisiana 48 on Interstate 310 south. Saint Rose (pop. 6540) is shown as a control city, even though it is closer to the U.S. 61/Exit 2 interchange to the east. Speed limits throughout the 11.50-mile interstate are posted at 70 MPH. Photo taken 06/10/06.
One half mile north of the directional ramps to Louisiana 48 (River Road) on Interstate 310 south. River Road carries Louisiana 48 west into Destrehan and New Sarpy on the four mile drive to Norco. St. Rose lies four miles to the east. Photo taken 06/10/06.
At the onset of the Mississippi River bridge on Interstate 310 southbound is the Exit 6 off-ramp for Louisiana 48 (River Road). This highway, similar to Louisiana 18 on the south banks of the river, straddles the north banks of the Mississippi. Photo taken 06/10/06.
Southbound Interstate 310 ascending upon the Hale Boggs Mississippi River bridge. Both approaches to the cable-stayed bridge are greeted with interchanges. 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 Photos taken 06/10/06.
Continuing southward toward the Exit 7 stack interchange with Louisiana 18 (River Road). Louisiana 18 follows the south banks of the Mississippi River through the St. Charles Parish seat of Hahnville (pop. 2,792) to the west and Luling (pop. 11,152) to the east. Photo taken 06/10/06.
Drivers bound for Louisiana 18 (River Road) depart Interstate 310 southbound at Exit 7. Louisiana 18 heads 16 miles west from U.S. 90 at Bridge City through Avondale, Waggaman, Ama, Lone Star,and Luling to junction Interstate 310. The state highway continues northwest 16 miles to Hahnville, Killona, and the St. John the Baptist Parish seat of Edgard. Photo taken 06/10/06.
The 1.50-mile guide sign for Louisiana 3127 (Exit 10) resides at the Louisiana 18 on-ramp to Interstate 310 south. Interstate 310 merges with Louisiana 3127 ahead of its final approach to Boutte. Photo taken 06/10/06.
Louisiana 3127 north travels 44 miles to Donaldsonville in Ascension Parish. The state highway follows a multi-lane divided highway seven miles northwest to junction Louisiana 3141 at Killona. Photo taken 06/10/06.
A high-speed interchange facilitates the movements between Interstate 310 and Louisiana 3127 at Exit 10. Louisiana 3127 stays south of the Mississippi River as a bypass route of Louisiana 18 for such communities as Edgard, Vacherie, St. James, and Welcome. Photo taken 06/10/06.
Interstate 310 turns southeast on the 1.50-mile drive to junction U.S. 90 near Boutte. Pictured here is the Exit 10 ramp departure to Louisiana 3127 north. Donaldsonville represents the seat of Ascension Parish, a parish within the Baton Rouge metropolitan area. Photo taken 06/10/06.
Interstate 310 & Louisiana 3127 south travel over a nearby canal on the 1.25-mile approach to U.S. 90. U.S. 90 comprises the most direct route between the greater New Orleans area and the TerreBonne Parish cities of Raceland, Thibodaux, and Houma. The federal highway travels the future Interstate 49 freeway west from the parish to Morgan City, Franklin, and Jeanerette. Photo taken 06/10/06.
Freeway ends one-half mile sign posted ahead of the Interstate 310 & Louisiana 3127 viaduct over Louisiana 631 (Old Spanish Trail) and the CSX Railroad. Louisiana 631 represents the original alignment of U.S. 90 through Boutte (pop. 2,181). Photo taken 06/10/06.
Freeway stubs are in place at the current half-diamond interchange of Interstate 310 & Louisiana 3127 and U.S. 90 for an eventual southward extension to future Interstate 49. Photo taken 06/10/06.
Interstate 310 southbound at the current southern terminus (Exit 11). At present all traffic is directed to the unsigned Exit 11 off-ramp onto U.S. 90. Houma (pop. 32,393) represents the next major destination for U.S. 90 westbound traffic. The community resides 31 miles to the southwest along the original U.S. 90 (Louisiana 182). Photo taken 06/10/06.
Traffic splits for ramps to U.S. 90 east to Boutte, Westwego, Jefferson, and New Orleans, and U.S. 90 west to Houma, Morgan City, and Lafayette. Louisiana 3127 ends at the traffic light ahead. Photo taken 06/10/06.
Sources:
"Major Bridges of Louisiana." Preconstruction Pages (LADOTD), Volume 2,1.
