Future Aspirations

The Florida Avenue freeway will connect to Interstate 10 and Interstate 610 near the eastern terminus of Interstate 610 and continue east to Interstate 510. It is not clear if this freeway will become an easterly extension of Interstate 610.

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

Most of the photos herein were taken prior to the destructive fury of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, which came ashore on the Gulf Coast in the late summer and fall of 2005. The storm affected the roads and highways of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Some of the scenes portrayed here may not still look this way today as a result.

Highway Guides

• Interstate 610 Louisiana

Mileage

State	Mileage	Cities	Junctions
Louisiana	4.52	New Orleans	Interstate 10, Interstate 10
Source: October 31, 2002 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

Interstate 610 Louisiana Annual Average Daily Traffic

Western Terminus - Interstate 10 - western New Orleans near Metairie
Perspective from Interstate 610 west
	The penultimate exit on westbound Interstate 10 is Exit 1A, Canal Boulevard. The final exit is the junction with Interstate 10 southeast to downtown New Orleans and the French Quarter and Interstate 10 west to the Louie B. Armstrong/New Orleans International Airport and Baton Rouge. Photo taken by Steve Hanudel (08/15/05).
	The final off-ramp of Interstate 610, Exit 1B, departs for Interstate 10 east to serve the Business District of New Orleans. Otherwise, Interstate 610 is defaulted onto Interstate 10 westbound, as the freeway exits the city limits and Orleans Parish into Jefferson Parish. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (08/02/02).
	The rebuilt eastbound beginning of Interstate 610 to the left, Interstate 610 eastbound concludes at this merge onto Interstate 10 west. The next several miles of Interstate 10 frequently are the subject of heavy traffic congestion as the roadway presses through the Metairie and Kenner communities. A brief reprieve of the traffic woes occurs at the Causeway Boulevard interchange (Exit 228). Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (08/02/02).
Perspective from Interstate 10 east
	Eastbound on Interstate 10 at Exit 229/Bonnabel Avenue, 1.50 miles west of the Interstate 10/610 split. The lighting fixtures on the sign bridge reveal that this sign bridge originally held separate panels for Interstates 10 and 610. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (05/13/03).
	Interstate 10 eastbound is briefly expanded into five lanes, as the freeway anticipates the split with Interstate 610/Exit 230. Interstate 10 sees three Interstate termini in the course of 30 miles, all spaced by ten miles (Interstate 55 at Exit 210, Interstate 310 at Exit 220, and Interstate 610 at Exit 230). Photo taken by Andy Field (12/28/02).
	A temporary guide sign left over from the 1999/2000 reconstruction of the western terminus of Interstate 610. Interstate 10 returns to Interstate 610 in eight miles. The highway is known as the Pontchartrain Expressway from Interstate 610 southward. The name is a leftover from the merge of Pontchartrain Boulevard (which crosses Interstate 610 within the first one half mile) onto the freeway. Photo taken by Andy Field (12/28/02).
	The split of the eastbound beginning of Interstate 610/Exit 230 and Interstate 10 as it turns southeastward toward downtown. The expanded interchange also can be restriped to allow for a third Interstate 610 lane. Traffic volumes on both highways remain fairly high on their respective jaunts eastward. Photo taken by Andy Field (12/28/02).
Next Three Interstate Junctions for Interstate 10 east
Interstate 910/ Interstate 49 future	4 miles at downtown New Orleans, LA
Interstate 510	16 miles at east New Orleans, LA
Interstate 12/ Interstate 59	37 miles at Slidell, LA
Eastern Terminus - Interstate 10 - eastern New Orleans
Perspective from Interstate 610 east
	Although not yet through with its mainline exits, Interstate 610 reassurance signage reverts to Interstate 10 by Exit 3/Elysian Fields Avenue. The north-south surface arterial, known as Louisiana 3121, carries four to six lanes between U.S. 90 and the French Quarter. It intersects Interstate 10 at Exit 237 to the south. Photo taken by Andy Field (12/28/02).
	The final mainline exit of Interstate 610 eastbound occurs at Exit 4/Franklin Avenue. This surface street is also accessible from Interstate 10 westbound Exit 238A. According to the LADOTD geographic features file, the official mileage of Interstate 610 ends at Franklin Avenue. Photo taken by Andy Field (12/28/02).
	Returning to Interstate 10 eastbound via the Interstate 610 flyover. Exit 239A/B for Louisa Street/Almonaster Boulevard is encountered quickly by merging motorists as Interstate 10 ascends over the Inner Harbor Navigational Canal beyond that interchange. Almonaster Boulevard is the same road that intercepts the southern terminus of Interstate 510. Photo taken by Andy Field (12/28/02).
Perspective from Interstate 10 west
	Exit 238B overhead for Interstate 610 west, one half mile east of the split from Interstate 10. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (05/13/03).
	Westbound Interstate 10 at Exit 238A/Franklin Avenue. Traffic from Franklin Avenue receives an on-ramp to Interstate 610 westbound in lieu of a return ramp to Interstate 10 west. The old lighting assemblies of former signs still adorn this 0.25 mile sign bridge for Exit 238B/Interstate 610 west. Photo taken by Eric Stuve (12/18/02).
	The eastern terminus interchange of Interstate 610 is completed elevated over the city streets below. There is only access to Interstate 610 from Interstate 10 west, and no access to Interstate 10 west via Interstate 610 east. Photo taken by AARoads (06/01).
	Closer look at the guide signs of the Interstate 10/610 westbound split at Exit 230. Interstate 10 continues southwest to downtown New Orleans as Interstate 610 beelines westward to a city exit at Metairie. The control city of Interstate 610 utilizes Baton Rouge for the return to Interstate 10. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (03/20/02).
	The split of Interstate 10/610 as seen during the mid morning of a winter. The New Orleans/Louis Armstrong International Airport is still 13 miles to the west, situated at Interstate 10 Exit 221. With that stated, unless it is late at night, those 13 miles are going to seem like an eternity... Photo taken by Eric Stuve (12/18/02).
Next Five Interstate Junctions for Interstate 10 west
Interstate 910/ Interstate 49 future	4 miles at downtown New Orleans, LA
Interstate 310	10 miles at Kenner, LA
Interstate 55	20 miles at LaPlace, LA
Interstate 12	71 miles at Baton Rouge, LA
Interstate 110	75 miles at Baton Rouge, LA

Page Updated May 21, 2006.