U.S. 65 extends 100.77 miles into Louisiana from the southeastern corner of Arkansas to the town of Clayton. Generally following the course of the Mississippi River, U.S. 65 joins the East Carroll Parish seat of Lake Providence with the Madison Parish seat of Tallulah. Continuing south from Interstate 20, U.S. 65 leads to the towns of Newellton and Waterproof in Tensas Parish. The southernmost extent of the highway angles southwest to U.S. 425/LA 25 in Clayton.
With the extension of U.S. 425 south from Bastrop to Natchez, Mississippi approved by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) in 2005, U.S. 65 was eliminated from Clayton south to U.S. 61 in Mississippi. U.S. 425 was lengthened south in an effort to connect the Capitol cities of Louisiana and Arkansas via a single U.S. route. U.S. 65 was truncated northward to eliminate the duplication with U.S. 425.
Historically, U.S. 65 continued south from Natchez, Mississippi back into Louisiana to New Orleans. The Louisiana Department of Highways petitioned the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO) for the revision of U.S. 11, U.S. 51, U.S. 65 and U.S. 71 to eliminate long overlaps. The change for U.S. 65 outlined in a letter dated June 1, 1951:
AASHO tentatively approved the change on October 21, 1951, needing correspondence from the Mississippi State Highway Department. Mississippi requested on November 29, 1951 that Louisiana consider moving the south end of U.S. 65 to a bypass that was under construction around Natchez. The adjustment was approved by AASHO on December 4, 1951. The Mississippi Highway Commission concurred with the change on December 11, 1951.
North
U.S. 65 begins from the southbound roadway taking U.S. 425/LA 15 through the town of Clayton.
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The first confirming marker for U.S. 65 north stands just beyond the intersection with U.S. 425/LA 15 northbound.
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U.S. 65 meets LA 900 just east of U.S. 425/LA 15.
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The Tensas Parish seat of St. Joseph lies 25 miles to the north off U.S. 65 via LA 128. U.S. 65 intersects LA 4 east into Newellton in 31.2 miles.
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LA 900 parallels U.S. 425 south to Red Gum before turning southeast to LA 568 at Lake Concordia.
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U.S. 65 bee lines northeast into Tensas Parish by Fletchers Lake.
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South
U.S. 65 curves southeast from LA 2 around Lake Providence into the town by the same name.
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LA 134 north ties into U.S. 65 by Tenas Basin.
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65.67 miles in length, LA 134 travels south to Epps and west to Oak Ridge and U.S. 165 at Sterlington.
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U.S. 65 (Lake Street) enters the town of Lake Providence at Artaud Avenue.
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LA 883-2 lines Gould Boulevard south 0.57 miles through the Lake Providence street grid to LA 883-1 (4th Street).
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LA 596 loops north from Lake Providence to the state line across From Pittman Island and west to U.S. 65 at Panola.
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U.S. 65 partitions into a couplet of Scarborough Street south and Sparrow Street north through the Lake Providence business district.
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LA 883-1 (4th Street) runs 1.82 miles west across the street grid to LA 134 outside of Lake Providence.
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LA 3181 stems 2.87 miles west from U.S. 65 to LA 134.
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U.S. 65 continues south into the unincorporated community of Transylvania.
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LA 580 bee lines 12.30 miles west from U.S. 65 at Alsatia to LA 577 north of Monticello.
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U.S. 65 south enters Madison Parish midway between Sondheimer and Enoka.
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U.S. 65 partitions into the couplet of Chestnut Street south and Cedar Street north just ahead of the Tallulah city limits.
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U.S. 65 (Chestnut Street) south converges with U.S. 80 (Green Street) in Downtown Tallulah.
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Paralleling Interstate 20 to the north, U.S. 80 generally serves local traffic west to Delhi and east to Mound.
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The Madison Parish Courthouse lies between Chestnut and Cedar Streets along U.S. 80 (Green Street).
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Chestnut Street intersects Depot Street adjacent to the Kansas City Southern Railroad.
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U.S. 65 (Chestnut Street) south next intersects LA 601 at Dabney Street.
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LA 601 leads 1.71 miles south from U.S. 65 in Tallulah to the north I-20 frontage road in the village of Richmond.
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Chestnut and Cedar Streets combine south along Bayou Drive.
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Turning south across Walnut Bayou, U.S. 65 separates with Old US 65.
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LA 3202 (Felicia Drive) connects U.S. 65 with LA 601 (Crothers Drive) along the Richmond village line, 1.17 miles to the east.
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U.S. 65 proceeds south from LA 3202 into a diamond interchange (Exit 171) with Interstate 20.
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Interstate 20 travels west across northern Louisiana from Tallulah to Monroe, Ruston, Minden and Shreveport.
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Interstate 20 east crosses the Mississippi River into Vicksburg, Mississippi.
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U.S. 65 bee lines southwest from Waterproof into Concordia Parish.
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Continuing south into the town of Clayton, U.S. 65 meets LA 900 south ahead of U.S. 425/LA 15.
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LA 900 meanders 4.3 miles south to Red Gum and LA 568 at Lake Concordia.
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U.S. 425/LA 15 constitute a four lane highway north from Clayton to Sicily Island, Winnsboro and Archibald.
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U.S. 425/LA 15 partition into a couplet through Clayton and across the Tensas River. Four lane expansion of the highway through town was completed in 2007.
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U.S. 425/LA 15 overlap south another 6.1 miles to U.S. 84 (Louisiana Avenue) in Ferriday.
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U.S. 425 continues along the former route of U.S. 65 alongside U.S. 84 east from Ferriday to U.S. 61 at Natchez, Mississippi.
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Page Updated Friday June 23, 2023.
