Louisiana Roads - I-10, Baton Rouge and W.

I-10, Baton Rouge and west

All photos are EB.


Lake Bigeaux, part of the Atchafalaya Basin (and National Wildlife Refuge) crossed by 17 miles of elevated roadway between Lafayette and Baton Rouge. Most of these views look south at the "open" water, even though it's more trees than water, until I spend a couple of photos at the end to gawk at the structure carrying the other side of I-10. Compared to a typical bayou, Lake Bigeaux has a lot more water and a lot less overgrowth, but it's still a bayou by virtue of the mixture of habitats. A few photos from the end, Louisiana's trademark airboat zips through the lake.


The two sides of I-10 come together to cross the Upper Grand River, then part once again to cross the Bayou des Ourses. (Ourses are female bears in French, which begs the question, why female?) The middle photo looks down the main channel of the Atchafalaya, and then thankfully that's the last time I have to type that word as the sides split yet again to finish crossing the bayou. The Next Right sign would probably have been fine on a much shorter pole instead of this unique box structure.


Before I get to cross the Mississippi River, I have to take care of some old signs first. Louisiana has no known button copy, so faded Interstate shields qualify as old, and the very few outline shield BGS's left in the state should be considered downright ancient.


Looking to the south (toward a railroad drawbridge next to the higher LA 1 fixed span) and north (Baton Rouge "skyline") from the western bridge approach.


Across the Horace Wilkinson Bridge, with another look north at Baton Rouge and south at the Mississippi.


To LSU is tiny, 1/2 mile is huge. The priorities are wrong.


When I-12 does get around to beginning a few miles later, it gets pavement shields, which appear to be all the rage now in Louisiana. Most of them are better than this Arial-font attempt.

Because I didn't want to leave you with Arial, enjoy a view of Horace from the Old Capitol Building.

Continue east on I-10 to New Orleans
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Into Texas on I-10
(Exit 153) to LA 1
Exit 155A to LA 30
Exit 155B to I-110
Onto I-12
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