Rayne, LA to East New Orleans, LA
Background:
This fictional freeway is my response to the "I-49 South" proposal, which is a plan by LADOTD and regional leaders to extend I-49 from Lafayette to New Orleans. The Interstate extension is a valid idea, but using the I-49 number isn't, as you'd have a north-south Interstate going mostly east-west, and even going the opposite direction of what it's signed at times.
As mentioned on my "Louisiana Shuffle" page, my solution is to redesignate the "I-49 South" extension as a realignment of I-10. This routing would be combined with a fictional southwestern bypass of the Lafayette area as well as a fictional eastern loop of New Orelans. Much of the routing follows that of existing US 90 (Future I-49), with smaller portions utilizing the Westbank Expressway (BUS US 90) and I-510.
As I-10 would be realigned onto a different alignment, some renumberings and route extensions would take place under this fictional idea. I-12 would be extended west along existing I-10 from Baton Rouge to Rayne, with existing I-110 in Baton Rouge becoming I-112. Proposed "I-49 South" from near Broussard to the existing I-10/I-49 interchange would remain "I-49". I-55 would be extended south through New Orleans and along the Westbank Expressway to meet Fictional I-10 in Gretna. Existing I-10 between Baton Rouge and LaPlace would become Fictional I-255. I-610 would be extended east to the existing I-10/I-510 interchange, with the short segment of existing I-10 between the Westbank and I-610 becoming Fictional I-810.
Map/Routing:
This map shows the location of my I-10 fictional realignment overlaid on a modern-day map. Total length is about 175 miles. The freeway routing is represented in blue. The black line south of Boutte represents an extension of I-310 to meet the Fictional I-10.
Links (some under development):
A VIRTUAL CRUISE of eastbound I-10
A VIRTUAL CRUISE of westbound I-10
Exit List of Fictional I-10
Back to Fictional Freeways
Back to Magnolia Meanderings
Last Updated: November 20, 2004
(C) 2004 Adam Froehlig