U.S. 65

U.S. 65

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:

Terminate this route at the junction of US 84 in Ferriday rather than in downtown New Orleans thus eliminated 151 miles of dual marking in Louisiana (including the 11 miles by-pass at Baton Rouge) and 44 miles in Mississippi
The by-pass route of US 65 at Baton Rouge would be removed entirely from the log.

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.

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Page Updated Friday June 23, 2023.