Louisiana Highway 10

Louisiana Highway 10 is a state highway located in southern Louisiana. It runs in an east–west direction from U.S. Highway 171 south of Leesville to the Mississippi state line east of Bogalusa.
The route connects a string of small towns and cities across the Central Louisiana, Acadiana, and Florida Parishes regions of the state. It runs parallel and to the north of the busier US 190 corridor. LA 10 crosses the Mississippi River via the John James Audubon Bridge, the only such crossing between Baton Rouge and Natchez, Mississippi. The western terminus in Vernon Parish comes within of reaching the Sabine River at the Texas state line and making LA 10 a true cross-state route.
During its lengthy route, LA 10 traverses ten parishes and connects six parish seats, including Ville Platte, New Roads, St. Francisville, Clinton, Greensburg, and Franklinton. It also passes through the cities of Oakdale and Bogalusa as well as towns such as Washington and Jackson. LA 10 intersects most of the state's major north–south highways, including Interstate 49, Interstate 55, US 51, US 61, US 71, US 165, US 167, and US 171.
Since the end of 2010, LA 10 has existed in two disconnected sections as the Melville Ferry service across the Atchafalaya River was discontinued. The nearest bridge crossing is on US 190 at Krotz Springs, to the south via LA 77 and LA 81. Alternately, motorists may cross the river via LA 1 at Simmesport, to the north.

Route description

Western terminus to Ville Platte

From the west, LA 10 begins at an intersection with US 171 in Pickering, a point in Vernon Parish located between DeRidder and Leesville. It proceeds east as an undivided two-lane highway, immediately crossing the Kansas City Southern Railway tracks, and passes along the southern edge of the U.S. Army base at Fort Johnson. LA 10 then turns to the southeast for and passes through the Vernon Unit of the Kisatchie National Forest. Curving back to the east, the highway continues before intersecting LA 399 in an area known as Cravens. After a brief concurrency with LA 10, LA 399 turns to the northeast toward Fullerton Lake. East of Cravens, LA 10 curves to the southeast and passes through the small community of Pitkin. Here, it intersects LA 113, which heads south to US 190 in Reeves. LA 10 and LA 113 proceed eastward out of Pitkin together. LA 113 then splits to the northeast toward Glenmora while LA 10 heads southeast through Dido and into Allen Parish.
Just across the parish line, LA 10 passes along the north side of the town of Elizabeth and has a brief concurrency with LA 112, which connects to DeRidder on the west and Union Hill on the east. LA 10 continues southeast for about and crosses a bridge over the Calcasieu River. Shortly afterward, the highway enters the city of Oakdale, widening to an undivided four-lane highway with center turning lane, and curves due east. LA 10 intersects US 165, which parallels the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. US 165 connects to Alexandria on the northeast and Lake Charles on the southwest. After passing along the southern edge of the downtown area, LA 10 intersects LA 372. The highway narrows to two lanes shortly before crossing the city limits and heads toward the parish line.
After crossing into Evangeline Parish, LA 10 intersects LA 106 at a point known as Beaver. LA 106 heads due east toward Pine Prairie while LA 10 begins to make a long bend to the south through a sparsely populated area. later, the route resumes its eastward course. At Barber Spur, LA 10 intersects LA 13 a distance of north of Mamou. LA 13 connects to Alexandria on the north as well as Eunice and Crowley on the south. Shortly after this intersection, LA 10 passes the Mamou Municipal Airport and intersects LA 376 in Vidrine. later, LA 10 intersects and begins a concurrency with US 167 at the western edge of Ville Platte, the parish seat.

Ville Platte to Melville

US 167 and LA 10 enter Ville Platte on West Main Street as an undivided four-lane highway with center turning lane, but the roadway soon separates to follow Main Street eastbound and LaSalle Street westbound, becoming a divided four-lane highway. Passing through the commercial section of town, the highway crosses the Acadiana Railway tracks and intersects LA 29. LA 29 begins a brief concurrency with US 167 and LA 10 before turning north onto Tate Cove Road. At this intersection, signs direct motorists to follow LA 29 northbound to reach I-49. Shortly afterward, the one-way couplet ends as US 167 and LA 10 proceed eastward out of Ville Platte as an undivided four-lane highway with center turning lane once again. Just outside the city limits, the highway narrows to two lanes and then curves to the southeast at LA 748 en route to the St. Landry Parish line.
In St. Landry Parish, US 167 and LA 10 intersect and briefly run concurrently with LA 103 south of Grand Prairie. After proceeding southeast through Plaisance, the route intersects LA 749, which heads south into Opelousas. Shortly afterward, at a point known as Nuba, the long concurrency of US 167 and LA 10 ends at an intersection with LA 182. US 167 continues east a short distance to I-49 and follows the interstate through Opelousas to Lafayette. Meanwhile, LA 10 turns north to follow LA 182 into the small town of Washington, situated on Bayou Courtableau. The route passes through the historic town center along Main Street and intersects LA 103, the town's connection to I-49, a second time. LA 10 and LA 182 proceed northeast across a bridge over Bayou Courtableau, exiting Washington. later, after curving due north, the route enters into an interchange with I-49 at Exit 27, connecting to Opelousas and Alexandria. After intersecting LA 745 at Macland, LA 10 and LA 182 separate at a point known as Beggs.
LA 10 curves to the northeast toward Lebeau where it intersects US 71, connecting to Alexandria via Bunkie on the northwest and Krotz Springs on the southeast. From this intersection, LA 10 turns east and closely parallels the Union Pacific Railroad tracks through the village of Palmetto. Over the next, LA 10 travels through a largely unpopulated area that is part of the Atchafalaya Basin. The route continues along the UPRR tracks into the town of Melville where it becomes known as Lafleur Street. At Fontenot Street, LA 10 intersects and begins a brief concurrency with LA 105, a highway that generally runs along the west bank levee of the Atchafalaya River. LA 105 turns north onto Landrum Street and crosses under the UPRR tracks while LA 10 proceeds over the levee to a dead end at the Atchafalaya River, which forms the boundary between St. Landry Parish and Pointe Coupee Parish.

Atchafalaya River to Mississippi River

The route resumes as a gravel road on the east bank of the Atchafalaya River in an area of Pointe Coupee Parish known as Red Cross. LA 10 curves to the north while crossing the river levee. Now running parallel with the levee, the highway passes underneath the Union Pacific Railroad bridge. Shortly afterward, it turns east while LA 417 continues the route north along the levee. Over the next, LA 10 proceeds east along Laio Road through the largely unpopulated Morganza Spillway. The highway makes a bend to the south through Ravenswood then resumes an eastward course and intersects LA 77. This section of LA 77, forming its northern terminus, is unsigned and also sports a gravel surface. LA 10 turns north, continuing the route of LA 77, and curves to the east across a second levee to exit the Morganza Spillway. It immediately intersects LA 77 Spur, a paved highway signed as the mainline route. Motorists are directed to turn south onto this route to reach US 190. From this intersection, LA 10 turns north and becomes a paved highway once again. The route follows alongside Bayou Fordoche as it bends to the east toward the village of Morganza, located on the west bank of the Mississippi River. Here, LA 10 crosses the Kansas City Southern Railway tracks and intersects LA 1, which heads northwest through Simmesport.
LA 10 turns to the southeast and begins a concurrency with LA 1 along the railroad line for a distance of into the small city of New Roads, the parish seat. Along the way, the route intersects LA 420, which connects to various points along the Mississippi River. LA 1 and LA 10 cross the New Roads city limits just after passing the False River Regional Airport. The concurrency ends as LA 1 turns south onto Hospital Road, bypassing the town. LA 10 continues ahead co-signed with LA 1 Bus. to an intersection with Parent Street. The business routes of LA 1 and LA 10 head southeast on Parent Street into town while mainline LA 10 travels along a northern bypass of the downtown area. later, LA 10 Bus. rejoins the main route at a second intersection with LA 420. LA 10 proceeds eastward for, traveling over a railroad overpass, to the foot of the John James Audubon Bridge over the Mississippi River. Just before crossing the bridge, a frontage road leads to LA 981, which follows alongside the river levee. LA 10 widens to a divided four-lane highway as it follows the cable-stayed bridge across the river and crosses into West Feliciana Parish.

St. Francisville to Interstate 55

LA 10 returns to grade after as an undivided two-lane highway and curves to the northeast through a rural and forested area. later, the route reaches an intersection with US 61 in an area known as Starhill. LA 10 turns northwest to follow US 61, becoming a divided four-lane highway. US 61 and LA 10 intersect the rural highways LA 966 and LA 965 on the way to the parish seat, the small town of St. Francisville. Crossing the town limits, the median transitions to a center turning lane, and an intersection with Commerce Street connects with the historic center of town. As the center lane disappears, US 61 and LA 10 proceed northwest a short distance to a four-way intersection at Jackson Road. Here, US 61 heads northward toward the Mississippi state line while LA 10 turns northeast toward Jackson. LA 10 continues northeast as an undivided two-lane highway through rural West Feliciana Parish for, passing through Elm Park to a point known as Carney, where the highway curves to the east. later, it reaches a second intersection LA 965. LA 10 then intersects LA 421 just before crossing a bridge over Thompson Creek and into the East Feliciana Parish town of Jackson.
LA 10 travels through Jackson on Charter Street, the town's central thoroughfare. After several blocks, it intersects LA 952. At the eastern edge of town is an intersection with LA 68, connecting to Wilson on the north and Baton Rouge via US 61 on the south. east of Jackson, LA 10 crosses over the Gloster Southern Railroad line at a point known as McManus. Shortly afterward, the highway intersects LA 19, another north–south route connecting to Baton Rouge and Wilson. After heading northeast for, LA 10 curves due east at an intersection with LA 963. The highway passes between a residential development and a large tract of open land shortly before intersecting LA 955, which heads south through Grays to a point near Slaughter. later, LA 10 enters Clinton, the parish seat, running along St. Helena Street. LA 10 intersects LA 67 at Liberty Street, and the two highways run concurrent for two blocks until LA 67 turns south onto Plank Road, the town's main connection to Baton Rouge. On the way out of Clinton, LA 10 curves to the northeast and continues for before crossing the Amite River into St. Helena Parish.
After entering rural western St. Helena Parish, LA 10 curves to the southeast and intersects LA 38 at Coleman Town, south of Chipola, followed by LA 448 at Darlington. LA 448 connects with LA 37 to Baton Rouge. Continuing southeast, LA 10 intersects LA 1043 to Liverpool. later, LA 10 enters Greensburg, the parish seat, and becomes known as Main Street. Nearing the center of town, LA 10 intersects LA 37 itself, followed by LA 43 four blocks later. LA 43 zigzags onto LA 10 for one block then turns south onto Sitman Street toward Montpelier. Outside the town limits, LA 10 intersects LA 10 Spur, an alternate route into Greensburg from the east. Heading out of St. Helena Parish, LA 10 intersects and has a brief concurrency with LA 441, a rural highway.