U.S. Route 11 in Louisiana
Encyclopedia
U.S. Route 11
in Louisiana extends from the National southern terminus in New Orleans to the Mississippi state line near Picayune, Mississippi
.
and Louisiana Highway 68, until interchanging at Exit 254 in Irish Bayou. There, Route 11 passes to the east of the bayou and continues north onto a causeway over Lake Ponchantrain.
Now on the causeway, U.S. Route 11 parallels to the west of Interstate 10 and entering the community of Lake Catherine. The causeway makes a turn to the northeast, and makes landfall in the community of North Shore. There, U.S. Route 11 gains the name Ponchantrain Drive and enters the community of Eden Isle. In Eden Isle, Route 11 passes the Oak Harbor Golf Club and near Fritchie Park. The highway passes Palm Lake, a small local waterbed, and intersects with Louisiana Highway 433
(known locally as the Old Spanish Trail
). Routes 11 and 433 become concurrent along the Old Spanish Trail for a short distance until Front Street, where Route 11 turns to the northeast.
Route 11 continues to the northeast, away from Route 433, and into the community of Slidell
. In Slidell, the route heads along Front Street, passing to the east of commercial buildings and to the west of residences, creating an arterial in downtown Slidell. After the intersection with Erlanger Road, Route 11 intersects with U.S. Route 190
(Fremaux Avenue), which becomes concurrent along Front Street. Routes 11 and 190 continue to the north, intersecting with many locally-maintained roads in Slidell and eventually passes a large park. At the intersection with Gauze Boulevard and Gauze Boulevard West, Route 190 turns to the west, along the western alignment.
Route 11 continues to the northeast along Front Street, until the intersection with the dead-end Indiana Avenue, where it changes onto the alignment of Highway 11. There, Route 11 leaves Slidell for the community of North Slidell, where it comes upon an interchange with Interstate 12
(the West Florida Republic Parkway) at Exit 83. After the partial-cloverleaf interchange, the highway intersects with many local roads in North Slidell and eventually into the community of Alton. In Alton, there is a short amount of local roads, but the community is not highly developed. North of Alton, Route 11 intersects with Highway Department Road, and eventually parallels to the west of Interstate 59
.
Route 11 continues to the northeast, intersecting with Louisiana Highway 41 (Watts Road) and locally-maintained Watts Road. This serves as the southern terminus for Route 41. Route 11 turns to the right and intersects with Louisiana Highway 41 Spur, an auxiliary route of the highway that intersected recently in the community of Pearl River
. At the intersection, Route 11 turns off of Main Street and interchanges with Interstate 59, paralleling it for a short distance to the north before becoming concurrent at the West Pearl River.
Route 11 and Interstate 59 continue to the northeast, interchanging with a former alignment of U.S. Route 11 that went to east from Interchange 5B. The highways parallel the West Pearl River and eventually, Honey Island Swamp Road. At Honey Island Swamp Road, Interstate 59 and U.S. Route 11 approach Interchange 11, the final interchange in Louisiana. At the Pearl River, the two highways cross the state line and enter Mississippi.
Today, the 1937 route of US 11 would follow Old US 11 from MS 607 to Pearl River; LA 3081 (Main Street) through Pearl River; current US 11 (Front Street) to Slidell; LA 433 (Old Spanish Trail) to the Rigolets
; US 90 (Chef Menteur Highway) to Michoud; Old Gentilly Road back to US 90 near Crowder Boulevard; US 90 (Chef Menteur Highway / Gentilly Boulevard) to Gentilly
; then Paris Avenue, St. Bernard Avenue, and North Broad Street to Canal Street
in New Orleans.
In 1938, the state of Louisiana purchased the Watson-Williams toll bridge. It became a free bridge and was re-named the Robert S. Maestri Bridge. In 1941, US 11 was moved onto its current alignment over the bridge (now commonly referred to as the Highway 11 Bridge or Five Mile Bridge). The Michoud Cutoff, an eastern extension of Chef Menteur Highway, was opened in May 1942, slightly shortening the route of US 11-90 and eliminating two grade crossings. In 1951, US 11 was cut back to its current southern terminus at US 90 near Irish Bayou. I-59 was opened parallel to US 11 in February 1964. The West Pearl River Bridge on US 11 was demolished in 1968, and US 11 was moved onto its current alignment co-signed with I-59 from Pearl River into Mississippi.
U.S. Route 11
U.S. Route 11 is a north–south United States highway extending 1,645 miles across the eastern United States. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 90 in the Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge in eastern New Orleans, Louisiana. The northern terminus is at the United...
in Louisiana extends from the National southern terminus in New Orleans to the Mississippi state line near Picayune, Mississippi
Picayune, Mississippi
Picayune is the largest city in Pearl River County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 10,878 at the 2010 census. Located approximately from New Orleans, Hattiesburg, and Gulfport/Biloxi...
.
Route description
U.S. Route 11 begins at an intersection with U.S. Route 90 (the Chef Menteur Highway) in the far eastern sections of New Orleans, in the community of Viavant. Route 11 heads to the north, passing to the east of a bayou of Lake Ponchartrain. The route passes Chevee Bayou and a short stretch of land in the community of Village DeEst. The route makes a short curve to the northeast, and returns to the north soon after. U.S. Route 11 begins to parallel Interstate 10Interstate 10
Interstate 10 is the fourth-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90, I-80, and I-40. It is the southernmost east–west, coast-to-coast Interstate Highway, although I-4 and I-8 are further south. It stretches from the Pacific Ocean at State Route 1 in Santa Monica,...
and Louisiana Highway 68, until interchanging at Exit 254 in Irish Bayou. There, Route 11 passes to the east of the bayou and continues north onto a causeway over Lake Ponchantrain.
Now on the causeway, U.S. Route 11 parallels to the west of Interstate 10 and entering the community of Lake Catherine. The causeway makes a turn to the northeast, and makes landfall in the community of North Shore. There, U.S. Route 11 gains the name Ponchantrain Drive and enters the community of Eden Isle. In Eden Isle, Route 11 passes the Oak Harbor Golf Club and near Fritchie Park. The highway passes Palm Lake, a small local waterbed, and intersects with Louisiana Highway 433
Louisiana Highway 433
Louisiana Highway 433 is a state highway in Louisiana that serves St. Tammany Parish. It spans in a west to east direction. It is known at various points as Thompson Road, Bayou Liberty Road, Pontchartrain Drive, Old Spanish Trail, and Rigolets Road.-Route description:From the west, LA 433...
(known locally as the Old Spanish Trail
Old Spanish Trail (auto trail)
The Old Spanish Trail auto highway once spanned the country with a full of roadway from ocean to ocean crossing 67 counties and eight states along the Southern border of the United States. Work on the auto highway began in 1915 and, by the 1920s, the trail linked St. Augustine, Florida, to San...
). Routes 11 and 433 become concurrent along the Old Spanish Trail for a short distance until Front Street, where Route 11 turns to the northeast.
Route 11 continues to the northeast, away from Route 433, and into the community of Slidell
Slidell, Louisiana
Slidell is a city situated on the northeast shore of Lake Pontchartrain in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 25,695 at the 2000 census. The Greater Slidell Community has a population of about 90,000...
. In Slidell, the route heads along Front Street, passing to the east of commercial buildings and to the west of residences, creating an arterial in downtown Slidell. After the intersection with Erlanger Road, Route 11 intersects with U.S. Route 190
U.S. Route 190
U.S. Route 190, also known as the Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway, is an east–west United States highway in Louisiana and Texas. It evolved from the shortest of intrastate routes in 1926 to a length comparable to a main Interstate Highway route, leading from the swamps and pine forests of...
(Fremaux Avenue), which becomes concurrent along Front Street. Routes 11 and 190 continue to the north, intersecting with many locally-maintained roads in Slidell and eventually passes a large park. At the intersection with Gauze Boulevard and Gauze Boulevard West, Route 190 turns to the west, along the western alignment.
Route 11 continues to the northeast along Front Street, until the intersection with the dead-end Indiana Avenue, where it changes onto the alignment of Highway 11. There, Route 11 leaves Slidell for the community of North Slidell, where it comes upon an interchange with Interstate 12
Interstate 12
Interstate 12 is an intrastate Interstate Highway located entirely within the state of Louisiana. I-12 starts in Baton Rouge at Interstate 10, and travels along the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain before ending at the intersection of Interstate 10 and Interstate 59 near Slidell...
(the West Florida Republic Parkway) at Exit 83. After the partial-cloverleaf interchange, the highway intersects with many local roads in North Slidell and eventually into the community of Alton. In Alton, there is a short amount of local roads, but the community is not highly developed. North of Alton, Route 11 intersects with Highway Department Road, and eventually parallels to the west of Interstate 59
Interstate 59
Interstate 59 is an Interstate Highway in the southern United States. Its southern terminus is near Slidell, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans, at an intersection with Interstate 10 and Interstate 12, its northern terminus is at Wildwood, Georgia, at an intersection with Interstate 24.The road's...
.
Route 11 continues to the northeast, intersecting with Louisiana Highway 41 (Watts Road) and locally-maintained Watts Road. This serves as the southern terminus for Route 41. Route 11 turns to the right and intersects with Louisiana Highway 41 Spur, an auxiliary route of the highway that intersected recently in the community of Pearl River
Pearl River, Louisiana
Pearl River is a town in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,839 at the 2000 census. It is part of the New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
. At the intersection, Route 11 turns off of Main Street and interchanges with Interstate 59, paralleling it for a short distance to the north before becoming concurrent at the West Pearl River.
Route 11 and Interstate 59 continue to the northeast, interchanging with a former alignment of U.S. Route 11 that went to east from Interchange 5B. The highways parallel the West Pearl River and eventually, Honey Island Swamp Road. At Honey Island Swamp Road, Interstate 59 and U.S. Route 11 approach Interchange 11, the final interchange in Louisiana. At the Pearl River, the two highways cross the state line and enter Mississippi.
History
The original 1926 southern terminus of US 11 was in Santa Rosa, Mississippi at a junction with US 90, today's intersection of MS 607 and Old US 11. In December 1935, the Pearlington Cutoff was opened, giving US 90 a more direct route between the Rigolets Bridge and the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and US 11 was extended south to meet the new US 90. In 1937, US 11 was re-routed south into Louisiana along the route vacated by US 90 two years earlier. From the intersection of today's LA 433 and US 90, US 11 was co-signed with US 90 into downtown New Orleans.Today, the 1937 route of US 11 would follow Old US 11 from MS 607 to Pearl River; LA 3081 (Main Street) through Pearl River; current US 11 (Front Street) to Slidell; LA 433 (Old Spanish Trail) to the Rigolets
Rigolets
The Rigolets is a 12.9 kilometer long strait in Louisiana.It begins at and follows a generally eastward course to Lake Borgne, which is a lagoon in the Gulf of Mexico, where it ends at . Along with nearby Chef Menteur Pass, the Rigolets connects Lake Pontchartrain and Lake St. Catherine to Lake...
; US 90 (Chef Menteur Highway) to Michoud; Old Gentilly Road back to US 90 near Crowder Boulevard; US 90 (Chef Menteur Highway / Gentilly Boulevard) to Gentilly
Gentilly, New Orleans
Gentilly is a broad, predominantly middle-class and racially diverse section of New Orleans, Louisiana. The first part of Gentilly to be developed was along the Gentilly Ridge, a long stretch of high ground along the former banks of Bayou Gentilly...
; then Paris Avenue, St. Bernard Avenue, and North Broad Street to Canal Street
Canal Street, New Orleans
Canal Street is a major thoroughfare in the city of New Orleans. Forming the upriver boundary of the city's oldest neighborhood, the French Quarter , it acted as the dividing line between the older French/Spanish Colonial-era city and the newer American Sector, today's Central Business District.The...
in New Orleans.
In 1938, the state of Louisiana purchased the Watson-Williams toll bridge. It became a free bridge and was re-named the Robert S. Maestri Bridge. In 1941, US 11 was moved onto its current alignment over the bridge (now commonly referred to as the Highway 11 Bridge or Five Mile Bridge). The Michoud Cutoff, an eastern extension of Chef Menteur Highway, was opened in May 1942, slightly shortening the route of US 11-90 and eliminating two grade crossings. In 1951, US 11 was cut back to its current southern terminus at US 90 near Irish Bayou. I-59 was opened parallel to US 11 in February 1964. The West Pearl River Bridge on US 11 was demolished in 1968, and US 11 was moved onto its current alignment co-signed with I-59 from Pearl River into Mississippi.