Interstate 49

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Interstate 49 runs north from Lafayette to Shreveport and from Shreveport to Texarkana, Arkansas. Work on the southeastern extension to the New Orleans area is still underway. The Inner City Connector between I-20/49 in Shreveport and I-49/220 at North Shreveport also remains planned.

Upgrades to Interstate standards along U.S. 90 in the vicinity of New Iberia are ongoing. Plans for I-49 include extending the Westbank Expressway (Interstate 910 / U.S. 90 Business) westward and constructing a new corridor through the city of Lafayette.

Interstate 49 Louisiana Guides

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South

The idea for Interstate 49 arose in 1965 by Governor John. J. McKeithen.1 Work for I-49 got underway in October 1975 at U.S. 167 and LA 93 in St. Landry Parish.2 The route was completed north from Lafayette to LeBeau by March 1987. $127.823 million in construction underway at that time lengthened I-49 north to U.S. 167 at Meeker while work was ongoing on a separate $95.033 million segment from Boyce to Natchitoches.1 Interstate 49 was dedicated from LA 6 / Exit 138 at Natchitoches to LA 174 / Exit 155 near Ajax on October 13, 1987.2 Bringing the total distance of I-49 to 105 miles, another nine miles opened to traffic from LA 509 / Exit 177 to LA 175 / Exit 186 near Frierson in DeSoto Parish on March 1, 1989.3

Following three weeks of delays due to incomplete work on an overpass and interchange near Washington, a 35 mile long section of Interstate 49 opened to motorists from Washington to Meeker on May 15, 1989.5 An additional 30 miles of I-49 were completed on November 22, 1989. This included 18 miles from LA 174 / Exit 155 to U.S. 84 / Exit 172 in DeSoto Parish and 12 miles from LA 175 / Exit 186 north to LA 526 (Bert Kouns Industrial Loop) / Exit 199 in Shreveport.6

Interstate 49 north from Exit 90 / LA 498 in northwest Alexandria to Exit 98 / LA 1 outside Boyce opened following ceremonies attended by Governor Buddy Roemer on September 26, 1991. The 7.7 mile long section cost $40.3 million to build.7 A ribbon cutting ceremony took place on May 14, 1992 for the final 20.8 miles of I-49 south of Alexandria. An additional four miles of I-49 north of Alexandria were to open at that time or the following week. Total costs for completed sections of I-49 at that time were $598 million. Five miles of I-49 in Shreveport and 4.5 miles at Alexandria remained under construction.8

A ribbon cutting ceremony held on December 19, 1995 preceded the opening of the last 7.57 miles of Interstate 49 in Shreveport.2 The final 16.6 miles of Interstate 49 through Alexandria was completed on May 1, 1996. The 212 miles of I-49 between I-10 and I-20 cost $1.5 billion overall.9

The I-49 main line originally ended at Interstate 20 southwest of Downtown Shreveport. Following completion of the last section of I-49 north from I-220 on October 17, 2018, I-49 was designated along a combination of I-20 west to LA 3132 and I-220 east as approved by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) in 2019. The freeway resumes northward from I-220 at North Shreveport to Texarkana, Arkansas.

The Inner Loop Expressway (LA 3132) spurs east from I-49 to LA 523 at Flournoy Lucas. The City of Shreveport, MPO and funding will determine the extension of the Inner Loop beyond this point.1 One possibility is to lengthen the freeway southeast to the planned I-69 corridor.

Interstate 49 scenes
Pont Des Mouton Road east at I-49/U.S. 167 in north Lafayette. 05/11/22
Pont Des Mouton Road west at the diamond interchange (Exit 1 C) with I-10/U.S. 167 in Lafayette. 05/11/22
Pont Des Mouton Road continues west from I-49/U.S. 167 to Mouton. I-49 concludes south at I-10/LA 182. 05/11/22
LA 98 runs along the Lafayette and Carencro city line west to the diamond interchange along I-49/U.S. 167 at Exit 2. 05/19/14
Traffic lights were added at the southbound ramps linking LA 98 (Gloria Switch Road and I-49/U.S. 167 in 2022. 05/19/14
Murphy Street heads west from U.S. 79/80 (Texas Street) to the former north end of Interstate 49 in Shreveport. 05/20/14
An entrance ramp connects the beginning of I-49 south from Allen Avenue and Murphy Street with I-20 west and I-49 north. 05/20/14
Murphy Street continues west from Allen Avenue and I-49 to LA 3094 (Hearne Avenue). 10/03/21
Allen Avenue runs 0.76 miles south from LA 173 (Ford Street) to the freeway beginning for I-49 south at I-20. 05/20/14, 10/03/21

Sources:
  1. "I-49 inching toward Shreveport finish line." Advocate, The (Baton Rouge, LA), March 29, 1987.
  2. "Another stretch of I-49 opens; next section links north, south." Advocate, The (Baton Rouge, LA), December 20, 1995.
  3. "New segment of I-49 open." Advocate, The (Baton Rouge, LA), October 22, 1987.
  4. "I-49 section slated to open." Advocate, The (Baton Rouge, LA), March 1, 1989.
  5. "New section along I-49 now open." Advocate, The (Baton Rouge, LA), May 16, 1989.
  6. "New stretch of interstate to be opened." Advocate, The (Baton Rouge, LA), November 10, 1989.
  7. "New I-49 section in Alexandria area to open Thursday." Advocate, The (Baton Rouge, LA), September 25, 1991.
  8. "I-49 dream draws closer." Advocate, The (Baton Rouge, LA), May 12, 1992.
  9. "Ceremony closes last gap in I-49." Advocate, The (Baton Rouge, LA), May 2, 1996.
  10. Savoie, Richard. Louisiana Department of Transportation & Development (LADOTD).


Photo Credits:

05/19/14, 05/20/14, 10/03/21, 05/11/22 by AARoads

Connect with:
Interstate 10
Interstate 20
Interstate 220
U.S. 71
U.S. 84
U.S. 167
U.S. 190
Highway 3132 - Inner Loop Expressway

Page Updated 06-30-2023.

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