Airline Highway
Encyclopedia
Airline Highway is a divided highway
in the U.S. state
of Louisiana
, built in the 1930s and 1940s to bypass the older Jefferson Highway
. It carries U.S. Highway 61 from New Orleans northwest to Baton Rouge, and U.S. Highway 190 from Baton Rouge west over the Mississippi River
on the Huey P. Long Bridge
. US 190 continues west towards Opelousas on an extension built at roughly the same time.
The highway was named because it runs relatively straight on a new alignment (see airline
), rather than alongside the winding Mississippi River
. The name became quite fitting, as both Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
and Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport
are along the highway. Airline Highway also runs close to the site of the old Baton Rouge airfield (near the intersection of Airline and Florida Blvd., now a park and government office complex), which brings it within blocks of the similarly named Airport Ave and Airway Drive.
, who promised a more direct route between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Originally, Airline Highway was a two-lane road that ran from Prairieville
to Kenner
. To reach Baton Rouge, travelers had to take Jefferson Highway (LA-73
), and to reach New Orleans, travelers had to take Williams Blvd. to Jefferson Highway (LA-48
) to enter the city through Claiborne Avenue
. In the late 1930s, the eastern end was extended to tie in with Metairie Road and later to Tulane Avenue. The western portion of the highway extended into Baton Rouge with the opening of the Old Mississippi River Bridge
in 1940. Most of the highway was multilaned in the 1950s. For a short time in that decade, it was the longest toll-free four-lane highway in the nation, as the multilaned portion ran 124 miles from the Atchafalaya River
to New Orleans.
The majority of the New Orleans-Baton Rouge section was built parallel to the Louisiana Railway and Navigation Company, which was itself built later than the slightly longer Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad
. The former Louisiana Railway, now part of the Kansas City Southern Railway
, crosses the Huey Long Bridge with the highway and splits to the northwest towards Shreveport; the extension to Opelousas parallels the New Orleans, Texas and Mexico Railway (later part of the Missouri Pacific Railroad
).
A vital link in this route included a bridge over the Bonnet Carre Spillway
that was built in 1935. This bridge carried four very narrow lanes of traffic (often resulting in accidents) until the mid 1970s when a second bridge was constructed.
Originally US Highways 65
and 51
were cosigned to Airline (65 the entire length, and 51 from LaPlace to New Orleans). In 1951, Louisiana truncated the route lengths, and the highway, with the exception of a portion in north Baton Rouge, is signed as US 61.
In an effort to clean up the highway's notorious history due to the seedy hotels and motels that once lined it, the portion in Jefferson Parish has been renamed Airline Drive.
carries U.S. Highway 61 and U.S. Highway 190 around downtown, and includes several interchange
s. The bypass was designated U.S. Highway 61/190 Bypass from 1957 to 1963, after which US 61 and US 190 were moved onto it, and their old routes through downtown became U.S. Highway 61/190 Business. The bypass and business routes originally intersected in a traffic circle
, which was replaced in 1967 by a cloverleaf interchange
.
In the original 1955 plan for urban
Interstate Highways, numbered by 1959, the Baton Rouge bypass was designated Interstate 410; it would have connected to Interstate 10 on both ends (as I-10 would have used the US 190 corridor immediately west of Baton Rouge, still crossing the Atchafalaya Swamp in its present location). The route was cancelled by the end of the 1960s (and the number was later reused for another Interstate 410).
Divided Highway
Divided Highway is a compilation album by American rock band The Doobie Brothers, released in 2003. . All tracks are taken from the albums Cycles and Brotherhood .-Track listing:...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, built in the 1930s and 1940s to bypass the older Jefferson Highway
Jefferson Highway
The Jefferson Highway was an automobile highway stretching through the central United States from New Orleans, Louisiana, to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Jefferson Highway was replaced with the new numbered US Highway system in the late 1920s...
. It carries U.S. Highway 61 from New Orleans northwest to Baton Rouge, and U.S. Highway 190 from Baton Rouge west over the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
on the Huey P. Long Bridge
Huey P. Long Bridge (Baton Rouge)
The Huey P. Long Bridge is a truss cantilever bridge over the Mississippi River carrying US 190 and one rail line between East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana and West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana....
. US 190 continues west towards Opelousas on an extension built at roughly the same time.
The highway was named because it runs relatively straight on a new alignment (see airline
Airline (disambiguation)
Airline is the common term for a company that provides air transport services for passengers or freight.Airline may also refer to:* A single holding company, which as an independent business and its holding, made up and composed of a single government-certificated air carrier that is an IATA...
), rather than alongside the winding Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
. The name became quite fitting, as both Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is a Class B public use international airport in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is owned by the City of New Orleans and is located 10 nautical miles west of its central business district. The airport's address is 900 Airline Drive...
and Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport
Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport
Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport , also known as Ryan Field, is a public use airport located four nautical miles north of the central business district of Baton Rouge, a city in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, United States....
are along the highway. Airline Highway also runs close to the site of the old Baton Rouge airfield (near the intersection of Airline and Florida Blvd., now a park and government office complex), which brings it within blocks of the similarly named Airport Ave and Airway Drive.
History
The highway dates back to the governorship of Huey LongHuey Long
Huey Pierce Long, Jr. , nicknamed The Kingfish, served as the 40th Governor of Louisiana from 1928–1932 and as a U.S. Senator from 1932 to 1935. A Democrat, he was noted for his radical populist policies. Though a backer of Franklin D...
, who promised a more direct route between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Originally, Airline Highway was a two-lane road that ran from Prairieville
Prairieville, Louisiana
Prairieville is an unincorporated community in Ascension Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is south of Baton Rouge and north of Gonzales, Louisiana. The latitude of is 30.302N. The longitude is -90.971W. Elevation is ....
to Kenner
Kenner, Louisiana
Kenner is a city in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States, and a suburb of New Orleans. The population was 66,702 at the 2010 census....
. To reach Baton Rouge, travelers had to take Jefferson Highway (LA-73
Louisiana Highway 73
Highway 73 is a highway stretching from Geismar, Louisiana, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Hwy. 73 was built as a bypass to the backbends of River Road. It was soon after bypassed itself in a more complete way with U.S...
), and to reach New Orleans, travelers had to take Williams Blvd. to Jefferson Highway (LA-48
Louisiana Highway 48
Louisiana Highway 48 is a state highway in Louisiana that serves St. Charles and Jefferson Parishes. It runs from west to east, parallel to the east bank of the Mississippi River, from Norco to Metairie. It spans a total of...
) to enter the city through Claiborne Avenue
Claiborne Avenue
Claiborne Avenue is a major thoroughfare in New Orleans, Louisiana. It runs the length of the city, about , beginning at the Jefferson Parish line and ending at the St. Bernard Parish line; the street continues in each of these locations under different names. It is called South Claiborne Avenue...
. In the late 1930s, the eastern end was extended to tie in with Metairie Road and later to Tulane Avenue. The western portion of the highway extended into Baton Rouge with the opening of the Old Mississippi River Bridge
Huey P. Long Bridge (Baton Rouge)
The Huey P. Long Bridge is a truss cantilever bridge over the Mississippi River carrying US 190 and one rail line between East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana and West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana....
in 1940. Most of the highway was multilaned in the 1950s. For a short time in that decade, it was the longest toll-free four-lane highway in the nation, as the multilaned portion ran 124 miles from the Atchafalaya River
Atchafalaya River
The Atchafalaya River is a distributary of the Mississippi River and Red River in south central Louisiana in the United States. It flows south, just west of the Mississippi River....
to New Orleans.
The majority of the New Orleans-Baton Rouge section was built parallel to the Louisiana Railway and Navigation Company, which was itself built later than the slightly longer Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad
Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad
The Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad was incorporated in 1882 and was part of the Illinois Central Railroad system . Construction began in Jackson, Mississippi, and continued to Yazoo City, Mississippi. The line was later expanded through the Mississippi Delta and on to Memphis, Tennessee...
. The former Louisiana Railway, now part of the Kansas City Southern Railway
Kansas City Southern Railway
The Kansas City Southern Railway , owned by Kansas City Southern Industries, is the smallest and second-oldest Class I railroad company still in operation. KCS was founded in 1887 and is currently operating in a region consisting of ten central U.S. states...
, crosses the Huey Long Bridge with the highway and splits to the northwest towards Shreveport; the extension to Opelousas parallels the New Orleans, Texas and Mexico Railway (later part of the Missouri Pacific Railroad
Missouri Pacific Railroad
The Missouri Pacific Railroad , also known as the MoPac, was one of the first railroads in the United States west of the Mississippi River. MoPac was a Class I railroad growing from dozens of predecessors and mergers, including the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway , Texas and Pacific...
).
A vital link in this route included a bridge over the Bonnet Carre Spillway
Bonnet Carré Spillway
The Bonnet Carré Spillway is a flood control operation in the Lower Mississippi Valley. Located in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana - about west of New Orleans - it allows floodwaters from the Mississippi River to flow into Lake Pontchartrain and thence into the Gulf of Mexico...
that was built in 1935. This bridge carried four very narrow lanes of traffic (often resulting in accidents) until the mid 1970s when a second bridge was constructed.
Originally US Highways 65
U.S. Route 65
U.S. Route 65 is a north–south United States highway in the southern and midwestern United States. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 425 in Clayton, Louisiana. The northern terminus is at Interstate 35 just south of Interstate 90 in Albert Lea, Minnesota...
and 51
U.S. Route 51
U.S. Route 51 is a north–south United States highway that runs for 1,286 miles from the western suburbs of New Orleans, Louisiana to within of the Wisconsin-Michigan border. Much of the highway in Illinois and southern Wisconsin runs parallel to or overlaps Interstate 39...
were cosigned to Airline (65 the entire length, and 51 from LaPlace to New Orleans). In 1951, Louisiana truncated the route lengths, and the highway, with the exception of a portion in north Baton Rouge, is signed as US 61.
In an effort to clean up the highway's notorious history due to the seedy hotels and motels that once lined it, the portion in Jefferson Parish has been renamed Airline Drive.
Baton Rouge Bypass
The portion of the Airline Highway north and east of downtown Baton RougeBaton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
carries U.S. Highway 61 and U.S. Highway 190 around downtown, and includes several interchange
Interchange (road)
In the field of road transport, an interchange is a road junction that typically uses grade separation, and one or more ramps, to permit traffic on at least one highway to pass through the junction without directly crossing any other traffic stream. It differs from a standard intersection, at which...
s. The bypass was designated U.S. Highway 61/190 Bypass from 1957 to 1963, after which US 61 and US 190 were moved onto it, and their old routes through downtown became U.S. Highway 61/190 Business. The bypass and business routes originally intersected in a traffic circle
Traffic circle
A traffic circle or rotary is a type of circular intersection in which traffic must travel in one direction around a central island. In some countries, traffic entering the circle has the right-of-way and drivers in the circle must yield. In many other countries, traffic entering the circle must...
, which was replaced in 1967 by a cloverleaf interchange
Cloverleaf interchange
A cloverleaf interchange is a two-level interchange in which left turns, reverse direction in left-driving regions, are handled by ramp roads...
.
Urban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
Interstate Highways, numbered by 1959, the Baton Rouge bypass was designated Interstate 410; it would have connected to Interstate 10 on both ends (as I-10 would have used the US 190 corridor immediately west of Baton Rouge, still crossing the Atchafalaya Swamp in its present location). The route was cancelled by the end of the 1960s (and the number was later reused for another Interstate 410).
Junction List
| Parish | Location | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orleans | New Orleans | South/east end of Airline Highway | |
| Jefferson Jefferson Parish, Louisiana Jefferson Parish is a parish in Louisiana, United States that includes most of the suburbs of New Orleans. The seat of parish government is Gretna.... |
Metairie Metairie, Louisiana Metairie is a census-designated place in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States and is a major part of the New Orleans Metropolitan Area. Metairie is the largest community in Jefferson Parish. It is an unincorporated area that would be larger than most of the state's cities if it were... |
Causeway Boulevard to Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Lake Pontchartrain Causeway The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, or the Causeway, consists of two parallel bridges crossing Lake Pontchartrain in southern Louisiana, United States. The longer of the two bridges is long... |
Interchange |
| to Earhart Expressway Earhart Expressway The Earhart Expressway, named for Frederick Earhart, is a state highway located in both Jefferson Parish and Orleans Parish, Louisiana. It is also designated as Louisiana Highway 3139 or LA 3139... |
|||
| Kenner Kenner, Louisiana Kenner is a city in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States, and a suburb of New Orleans. The population was 66,702 at the 2010 census.... |
– Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is a Class B public use international airport in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is owned by the City of New Orleans and is located 10 nautical miles west of its central business district. The airport's address is 900 Airline Drive... |
||
| St. Charles St. Charles Parish, Louisiana St. Charles Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Hahnville. In 2010, its population was 52,780. In the eighteenth and nineteenth century, this was part of the German Coast, an area along the Mississippi River settled by numerous German pioneers in the... |
Interchange | ||
| St. John the Baptist St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana St. John the Baptist Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana.The parish seat is Edgard, an unincorporated area and the unofficial parish captial is LaPlace, an unincorporated area. St. John the Baptist is one of the original 19 parishes in Louisiana. In 2010, its population was... |
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| La Place | |||
| Montegut Montegut, Louisiana Montegut is a census-designated place in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,803 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:... |
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| St. James | |||
| Ascension Ascension Parish, Louisiana Ascension Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is the fastest growing parish in the state. Its population is 107,215 which is 39.9% greater than the 2000 census... |
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| Sorrento Sorrento, Louisiana Sorrento is a town in Ascension Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,227 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Sorrento is located at .... |
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| Gonzales Gonzales, Louisiana Gonzales is a city in Ascension Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 8,156 at the 2000 census. It has been called the "jambalaya capital of the world" and is famous for its annual Jambalaya Festival. Gonzales is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area.State... |
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| South end of LA 42 overlap | |||
| East Baton Rouge East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana East Baton Rouge Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Baton Rouge, Louisiana's state capital. As of the 2010 census, the population was 440,171. The parish has a total area of , of which is land and is water. It is the most populous parish in the state... |
North end of LA 42 overlap | ||
| Jefferson Highway | Interchange | ||
| Baton Rouge Baton Rouge, Louisiana Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South... |
Interchange | ||
| Interchange; south end of US 190 overlap | |||
| Interchange | |||
| – Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport , also known as Ryan Field, is a public use airport located four nautical miles north of the central business district of Baton Rouge, a city in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, United States.... |
Interchange | ||
| , Natchez Natchez, Mississippi Natchez is the county seat of Adams County, Mississippi, United States. With a total population of 18,464 , it is the largest community and the only incorporated municipality within Adams County... |
Interchange | ||
| , Natchez Natchez, Mississippi Natchez is the county seat of Adams County, Mississippi, United States. With a total population of 18,464 , it is the largest community and the only incorporated municipality within Adams County... |
Interchange; east end of US 61 overlap | ||
| Huey P. Long Bridge Huey P. Long Bridge (Baton Rouge) The Huey P. Long Bridge is a truss cantilever bridge over the Mississippi River carrying US 190 and one rail line between East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana and West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana.... over Mississippi River Mississippi River The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains... |
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| West Baton Rouge West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana West Baton Rouge Parish is one of the sixty-four parishes in the U.S. state of Louisiana, and is the smallest in total area. The parish seat is Port Allen and as of 2010, the population was 23,788. The parish has a highly-rated school system and is one of the few in Louisiana that has privatized... |
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| Interchange; east end of LA 1 overlap | |||
| Interchange | |||
| Pointe Coupee Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana Pointe Coupee Parish, pronounced "Pwent Koo-Pay" and , is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is New Roads. As of 2000, the population was 22,763.... |
West end of LA 1 overlap | ||
| Livonia Livonia, Louisiana Livonia is a town in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,339 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town is home to Livonia High School. The town's zip code is 70755... |
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| Lottie Lottie, Louisiana Lottie is a town located in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana , along U.S. Highway 190 near its intersection with Louisiana Highway 81. The population is 450... |
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| Bridge over Atchafalaya River Atchafalaya River The Atchafalaya River is a distributary of the Mississippi River and Red River in south central Louisiana in the United States. It flows south, just west of the Mississippi River.... |
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| St. Landry St. Landry Parish, Louisiana St. Landry Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is at the heart of Acadian/Cajun culture and heritage in Louisiana. The parish seat is Opelousas. According to the 2010 census, the population of St. Landry Parish is 83,384.St... |
Krotz Springs Krotz Springs, Louisiana Krotz Springs is a town in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana on the Atchafalaya River. The population was 1,219 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Opelousas–Eunice Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:... |
Interchange | |
| Interchange | |||
| Port Barre Port Barre, Louisiana Port Barre is a town in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 2,287 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Opelousas–Eunice Micropolitan Statistical Area... |
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| East end of LA 103 overlap | |||
| West end of LA 103 overlap | |||
| Opelousas Opelousas, Louisiana Opelousas is a city in and the parish seat of St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies at the junction of Interstate 49 and U.S. Route 190. The population was 22,860 at the 2000 census. Although the 2006 population estimate was 23,222, a 2004 annexation should put the city's... |
Interchange; westbound exit and eastbound entrance | ||
| Interchange; north/west end of Airline Highway | |||