Length 128.3 km | ||
 | ||
Existed: 1955 renumbering – present West end: LA 1 / LA 3089 in Donaldsonville East end: US 90 Bus. / LA 23 in Gretna Parishes Ascension Parish, Louisiana | ||
Louisiana Highway 18 (LA 18) is a state highway that serves Ascension, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Charles, and Jefferson Parishes. Called the Great River Road, it runs from west to east, parallel to the west bank of the Mississippi River, running from Donaldsonville to Gretna. It spans a total of 79.7 miles (128.3 km). In the more rural parts of LA 18's span, it is commonly referred to as River Road, but it becomes 4th Street once it enters Westwego.
Contents
Map of LA-18, Louisiana, USA
Route description
LA 18 begins as an undivided, two lane road in downtown Donaldsonville as Bayou Road, which runs parallel to the Mississippi River. It intersects with the Sunshine Bridge (LA 70) east of Donaldsonville, the Veterans Memorial Bridge (LA 3213) in Wallace, and Interstate 310 near Luling as it continues downriver. At Bridge City, LA 18 shortly merges with U.S. Highway 90 but continues its eastward span while U.S. 90 crosses the Mississippi River via the Huey P. Long Bridge. When LA 18 enters Westwego, LA 18 becomes 4th Street but still continues alongside the river. In Gretna, LA 18 turns south, away from the river, onto Lafayette Street and ends at the intersection of Lafayette St. and the Westbank Expressway.
History
Between the junction with LA 52 in Luling and Huey P. Long Avenue in downtown Gretna, LA 18 is largely the original routing of U.S. Highway 90 (also LA 2 before the 1955 renumbering) and before that, the Old Spanish Trail highway. (One notable exception is that LA 18 is routed along Louisiana Street rather than the parallel Sala Avenue through Westwego's historic district.)
Louisiana Highway 18 Spur
In Westwego, LA 18 turns from Louisiana Street onto 4th Street. LA 18 Spur continues southward for 0.6 miles (0.97 km) on Louisiana Street until it meets the Westbank Expressway (U.S. 90 Business).
The entire highway is in Westwego, Jefferson Parish.