Interstate 12

History

Western Terminus

Eastern Terminus

Routing

Interstate 12 functions as a bypass route for Interstate 10 north of the New Orleans metropolitan area and Lake Pontchartrain. Although an intrastate route, the importance of Interstate 12 to cross country travel and the amount of traffic it carries justifies its role as a two-digit Interstate highway. Outside of Baton Rouge, Hammond and suburban Slidell, the route travels through rural pine forest.

In 1993, the Louisiana State Legislature passed a resolution declaring Interstate 12 the West Florida Republic Parkway. This name stems from the 74 day West Florida Republic existance that occurred between an 1810 revolt against Spain and the forced annexation of the eight parishes into the Louisiana Purchase by the United States. During mid-November of 2003, signs were installed proclaiming the highway the West Florida Republic Parkway.¹

Future Aspirations

The Northern Baton Rouge Bypass is planned as a future Interstate highway. For a detailed discussion, visit the Interstate 410 Louisiana page. However, it is possible that the bypass may become part of Interstate 12 based on this excerpt from page C-1 of the Louisiana Statewide Transportation Plan Update report: "[Recommendation:] Break out the Baton Rouge North Bypass from I-10 to I-12 (LSTP-051) to Priority A and B: Priority A – new Interstate I-12 from I-10 west of LA 415 to US 190 and bridge rehabilitation to Airline Highway, stop at Plank Road interchange. Move project from Priority B to Priority A 'mega' projects. Priority B – Plank Road interchange to I-12, build/upgrade to 4-lane interstate standards" (emphasis added). Based on this statement, the bypass could be designated as possibly even Interstate 12, but it seems more likely to have a three-digit route designation.

According to the journal Roads and Bridges, the Interstate 12 corridor should be extended westward. They describe it as follows: "Interstate 12 Houston to Austin: These metropolitan areas have grown rapidly. Less than 100 miles, this route would require upgrading from Austin to Interstate 10 along the state route 71 corridor." Texas 71 is four-lane, divided for its entire length; it is unclear if interchanges would be added to the existing road or if an entirely new freeway would be constructed. Texas 71 has a 70 mph speed limit, with speed reductions at the towns along the way.

Patrick L. Humphrey writes, "Once you get out of Austin, the only place you'll hit traffic lights on Texas 71 between there and Interstate 10 in Columbus is on the south side of Bastrop -- and if 71 is ever upgraded to a full freeway all the way, there's enough right-of-way on the 71 bypass around Bastrop that a freeway conversion could be done with very little dislocation of existing establishments. The only other place where the speed limit drops is a mile stretch through the town of Ellinger, just southeast of La Grange...and a slight realignment to the west there would make that a moot point."

History

Interstate 12 was completed between U.S. 61 (Airline Highway) at Baton Rouge and Interstate 55 at Hammond in 1969. The western most two miles of Interstate 12 opened in conjunction with Interstate 10 east from College Drive in 1965.² Interstate 10 southeast from I-12 would not be completed until 1974, resulting in traffic defaulting from I-10 east onto I-12 and U.S. 61 until 1969.

Highway Guides

• Louisiana

	Western Terminus - Interstate 10 - Baton Rouge, Louisiana Perspective from Interstate 12 west Westbound Interstate 12 at Exit 1B (Louisiana 1068), approaching Exit 1A (Interstate 10). This is the last exit before the end of Interstate 12 in Louisiana. Photo taken by Andy Field and Alex Nitzman (08/12/02). Westbound Interstate 12 approaching Junction Interstate 10. There are no "END" Interstate 12 signs or shield assemblies along westbound. Photo taken by Andy Field and Alex Nitzman (08/12/02). Westbound Interstate 12 at exit for eastbound Interstate 10 toward New Orleans. Interstate 12 traffic will merge with Interstate 10 westbound straight ahead. This marks the western terminus of Interstate 12. Photo taken by Andy Field and Alex Nitzman (08/12/02). This photo shows the same sign bridge several years earlier along westbound Interstate 12 at its terminus with Interstate 10. Interstate 10 proceeds westward towards downtown Baton Rouge. Vidcap taken by Alex Nitzman (1/96). The overhead ramp ahead is the eastbound Interstate 10 traffic crossing over westbound Interstate 12 traffic. The merge with Interstate 10 westbound is just beyond this overpass. Photo taken by Andy Field and Alex Nitzman (08/12/02). Westbound Interstate 12 traffic follows this transition ramp onto Interstate 10. Note the signage for the next exit uses the exit numbering system for Interstate 10. Photo taken by Andy Field and Alex Nitzman (08/12/02). Traffic from westbound Interstate 12 merges from the right onto westbound Interstate 10 in Baton Rouge. Photo taken by Andy Field and Alex Nitzman (08/12/02). Perspective from Interstate 10 east Interstate 10 eastbound at Exit 158/College Drive. This roadway is named as such not for Louisiana State University, but for Baton Rouge Community College. The split with Interstate 12 eastbound is situated in 1.50 miles. Photo taken by Eric Stuve (12/17/02). Graphical overhead on Interstate 10 eastbound for the pending split with Interstate 12. Interstate 12 is an 85 mile alternate route of Interstate 10 for traffic wishing to bypass the New Orleans metropolitan area. Because of this, one more lane is allocated for Interstate 12 over Interstate 10. The city of New Orleans is still 71 miles away at this point. Photo taken by Eric Stuve (12/17/02). Summertime view of the 0.75 mile guide sign of Exit 158 Pictured above. Note the aforementioned sound wall construction. Interstate 10 exits the Baton Rouge metropolitan area by Exit 166/Louisiana 42 and 427. Photo taken by Andy Field and Alex Nitzman (08/12/02). Interstate 10 expands to four eastbound lanes in anticipation of the Interstate 12 beginning, one half mile to the east. The control city of Hammond is 40 miles to the east at this point, and the midpoint of Interstate 12 at Interstate 55. New sound barriers saw installation during 2002. Photo taken by Eric Stuve (12/17/02). A closer view of the Interstate 10/12 panel Pictured above. A sign replacement project was underway during the Spring of 2000 that saw the replacement of all Interstate 10/12 interchange related signage. Photo taken by Jeff Royston (05/27/00). The predecessor to the guide panel in the above photograph displayed only two lanes for Interstate 12 as opposed to the expanded three that now serves the Interstate beginning. Vidcap taken by Alex Nitzman (01/16/96). Interstate 12 begins as Interstate 10 turns southeastward toward Gonzales, La Place, and New Orleans. Development of Baton Rouge continues along the Interstate 12 corridor through to Exit 10/Louisiana 3002 at Denham Springs. Photo taken by Eric Stuve (12/17/02). The first eastbound Interstate 12 reassurance shield is posted on the one mile overhead assembly for Exit 1B/Louisiana 3064/Essen Lane. This assembly is posted within 300 feet of the split from Interstate 10. Louisiana 3064 also intersects Interstate 10 at the next eastbound interchange (Exit 160). Photo taken by Eric Stuve (12/17/02). Next Five Interstate Junctions for Interstate 10 east Interstate 55 50 miles at LaPlace, LA Interstate 310 61 miles at Kenner, LA Interstate 610 71 miles at New Orleans, LA Interstate 910/ Interstate 49 future 75 miles at downtown New Orleans, LA Interstate 510 87 miles at east New Orleans, LA Next Three Interstate Junctions for Interstate 12 east Interstate 55 38 miles at Hammond, LA Interstate 10 85 miles at Slidell, LA -- -- Perspective from Interstate 10 west Westbound Interstate 10 at Exit 160/Louisiana 3064/Essen Lane. This 1.86-mile state route connects Louisiana 73 and 427 and provides the first mainline interchange for Interstate 12 (Exit 1B) just to the north. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (04/13/03). Interstate 10 westbound maintains just two lanes as it continues toward downtown Baton Rouge at Exit 159/Interstate 12 east. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (04/13/03). Interstate 12 eastbound begins from Interstate 10 westbound. The area of southeast Baton Rouge is rather developed, so a return ramp to Interstate 12 eastbound is useful for local traffic interests. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (04/13/03). Next Three Interstate Junctions for Interstate 10 west Interstate 110 4 miles at downtown Baton Rouge, LA Interstate 49 56 miles at Lafayette, LA Interstate 210 125 miles at Lake Charles, LA Eastern Terminus - Interstate 10/Interstate 59 - Slidell, Louisiana Perspective from Interstate 12 east The first of in a series of Exits 85A/B/C guide signs on Interstate 12. This 1.25 mile signage is posted at the U.S. 11 underpass of Interstate 12 at the Exit 83 interchange for Slidell. Speed limits of Interstate 12 are posted at 70 MPH from Exit 10 eastward to the terminus. Photo taken by Eric Stuve (12/17/02). Now within one mile of the eastern terminus of Interstate 12 and southern terminus of Interstate 59. All current Interstate 12 related signage was installed during the Spring 2000 replacement project. Photo taken by Eric Stuve (12/17/02). The first off-ramp of the final interchange of Interstate 12 is for Interstate 10 westbound to the city of New Orleans. This guide sign is the first such panel for Exit 85A, as the ramp departs in 0.50 miles. The overpass in the background is that of Louisiana 1091. Louisiana 1090 and 1091 parallel the Interstate 10/59 north-south alignment through Slidell between U.S. 11 and 190. Photo taken by Eric Stuve (12/17/02). Entering the Exit 85 interchange on Interstate 12 eastbound. Exit 1A departs for Interstate 10 west (south) back to Slidell and New Orleans. This north-south alignment of Interstate 10 was once touted as Interstate 59 in planning maps. Photo taken by Andy Field (10/04/01). The preceding set of guide signs on Interstate 12 eastbound at Exit 1A/Interstate 10 west. Interstate 10 actually enters the expansive city limits of New Orleans in just 11 miles. The municipal boundary extends outward to the Orleans/Saint Tammany Parish Line over Lake Pontchartrain. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (11/06/99). A third perspective of Exit 1A of Interstate 12 eastbound. Interstate 10 sees three Slidell area exits before crossing the seven mile Lake Pontchartrain Bridge. The final mainline exit of Interstate 12 meanwhile, serves the northbound beginning of Interstate 59/Exit 1B. Photo taken by Eric Stuve (12/17/02). Interstate 59 northbound begins from Interstate 12 eastbound at the Exit 1B cloverleaf ramp. The Interstate also sees a Slidell area exit, three miles to the north. Interstate 59 otherwise travels 11.48 miles to the Mississippi State line near Nicholson before reaching Hattiesburg in 73 miles. Photo taken by Andy Field (10/04/01). Interstate 12 draws to a close at the merge onto Interstate 10 eastbound. There are no more Louisiana interchanges in this direction, as Interstate 10 crosses the Pearl River Wildlife Management Area into the Magnolia State in seven miles. Photo taken by Andy Field (10/04/01). Perspective from Interstate 10 west Interstate 10 spans the West Pearl River on the two mile approach to the joint terminus of Interstates 12 and 59. Photo taken 04/20/12. The one mile guide sign for Exits 267A/B resides just west of the Louisiana Welcome Center. The Slidell welcome center reopened on June 29, 2009 after two years of reconstruction. The new facility replaced the 1978-opened center at the same location at a cost of $12 million.2 Photo taken 04/20/12. The left-hand lane of Interstate 10 opens to allow for two lanes to New Orleans and the westbound mainline. Traffic to the right defaults onto Interstate 12 westbound (Exit 267B) in one half mile. Exit 267A departs shortly after the split of Interstate 10 from 12 for Interstate 59 north. Photo taken 04/20/12. Interstate 12 splits and begins from Interstate 10 west. Both highways serve the immediate Slidell area with interchanges. Otherwise Interstate 12 reaches Hammond in 45 miles while Interstate 10 enters the heart of New Orleans in 38 miles. Exit 267A, the northbound ramp for Interstate 59, departs in 0.25 miles. Photo taken 04/20/12. More photos from this perspective, including 2000-based sign replacements, at the Interstate 10 West - Mississippi to New Orleans East highway guide. Historical Perspective from Interstate 10 westbound A resigning project of Exit 267 resulted in new guide signage for all perspectives during the Spring of 2000. The product of this project saw the replacement of the original sign bridges and faded reflective signage. This photograph shows the sign bridge at the Interstate 10/12 split. The overheads preceding the Interstate 10 and 12 split were replaced again by 2012 with Clearview-font based signs. Photo taken by Adam Froehlig (03/99). Next Three Interstate Junctions for Interstate 10 west Interstate 510 21 miles at east New Orleans, LA Interstate 610 29 miles at New Orleans, LA Interstate 910/ Interstate 49 future 34 miles at downtown New Orleans, LA Next Three Interstate Junctions for Interstate 12 west Interstate 55 47 miles at Hammond, LA Interstate 10 85 miles at Baton Rouge, LA -- -- Perspective from Interstate 59 south The first sign for Interstates 10 and 12 west (Exits 1A/B/C) posted along Interstate 59 south is this nondescript junction panel situated north of the Louisiana welcome center. Photo taken 04/20/12. A sign bridge, gone as of April 2012, was the first to display control cities for Interstates 10 and 12 west for southbound travelers of I-59. Interstate 59 south defaults onto Interstate 10 west to New Orleans as ramps (Exit 1A) connect with Interstates 12 west and 10 (Exit 1B) east to Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Photo taken 08/20/01. Exit 1A to the westbound beginning of Interstate 12 departs Interstate 59 southbound as it enters a directional cloverleaf interchange with Interstate 10. Interstate 12 travels west from the outskirts of Slidell to Covington and Baton Rouge. Photo taken 04/20/12. Historical Perspective from Interstate 59 southbound A resigning project during Spring 2000 resulted in the removal of this overhead Exit 1B guide sign assembly. The replacement, attached to the Brown Switch Road overpass in the background, was already replaced by 2012. Photo taken 11/06/99. More photos from this perspective, posted at Interstate 59 South - Louisiana highway guide. Perspective from Interstate 10 east Exit 267B facilitates traffic to the westbound beginning of Interstate 12. Interstate 59 will not encounter another Interstate highway until it merges onto Interstate 20 in 160 miles near the city of Meridian, Mississippi. Photo taken 04/20/12. Yellow and black Left Exit tabs were included in 2012 sign replacements for Interstates 12 west and 59 north. The first interchange of Interstate 12 west lies two miles away at U.S. 11 (Exit 83). I-59 also next meets U.S. 11, with the US highway joining the freeway northward to Picayune, Mississippi. Photo taken 04/20/12. More photos from this perspective, including 2000-based sign installations, at the Interstate 10 East - New Orleans East to Mississippi highway guide. Next Three Interstate Junctions for Interstate 10 east Interstate 110 53 miles at D'Iberville, MS Interstate 65 104 miles at Mobile, AL Interstate 110 162 miles at Pensacola, FL Next Three Interstate Junctions for Interstate 59 north Interstate 20 overlap begin 159 miles at Meridian, MS Interstate 359 253 miles at Tuscaloosa, AL Interstate 459 288 miles at Bessemer, AL

Sources:

1. "Signs on I-12 remind people of Florida Parishes republic." Fox 8 Live WVUE-TV New Orleans, November 24, 2003.
2. "Booklet for I-10 Dedication Ceremony." Baton Rouge Digital Archive, September 18, 1964.
3. "I-10 welcome center reopens near Slidell." The Times-Picayune, June 29, 2009.

Page Updated September 25, 2012.