Interstate 910 is the hidden designation for the West Bank Expressway, which is signed as Business U.S. 90. This designation is a precursor to the Future Interstate 49 extension, which will take over all of existing Interstate 910 once it is constructed parallel to existing U.S. 90 between Lafayette and New Orleans. Since the Interstate 49 construction project will take some time to be completed, the temporary Interstate 910 designation for this section of the Future Interstate 49 freeway is logical.
The new Interstate 910 designation first came to fruition when it was approved by AASHTO on October 1, 1999, but it was never signed. The October 31, 2002, Interstate Route Log and Finders List, published by the Federal Highway Administration, revealed that the Interstate 910 designation is official on its Auxiliary Routes page, so Interstate 910 is now an unsigned, "hidden" Interstate.
An update comes in this January 2003 email from the Louisiana Department of Transportation: 1
"The signing of the Westbank Expressway as I-910 is still on hold due to the inclusion of this section of highway in the Future I-49 Corridor. The Department is about to initiate work on an Environmental Impact Statement for 37 miles west of the Westbank Expressway. At the conclusion of that study, we will be in a better position to determine how to proceed."
So in other words, while it appears that the feds have approved the mileage as Interstate 910, the state has yet to decide if signing is in their best interests.
The need for Interstate 910 will come to an end once Interstate 49 is extended from Houma and Morgan City to the southwest. Thus the eastern terminus of Interstate 910 is also the future eastern/southern terminus of Interstate 49. This portion of Interstate 49 is part of High Priority Corridor 37.
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.
Western Terminus - Business U.S. 90/End of Westbank Expressway - Marrero, Louisiana
Perspective from Business U.S. 90 west
Much of the freeway standard sections of the Westbank Expressway are on elevated viaduct. However, the freeway section ends after Westwood Drive. At that point, there are a few traffic signals before reaching the end of Business U.S. 90 (and hidden Interstate 910) at the junction with U.S. 90. Photo taken by Steve Hanudel (08/15/05).
About three miles ahead, Business U.S. 90 ends at this junction with U.S. 90. Future Interstate 49 follows westbound U.S. 90 (left lane). To return to New Orleans, follow U.S. 90 east via the Huey P. Long Bridge. Interstate 910 ends here (or will end here once the entire route is brought up to Interstate standards). Photo taken by Steve Hanudel (08/15/05).
Perspective from Business U.S. 90 east
Business U.S. 90 from its beginning near Westwego to this point at Marrero utilizes three lane frontage roads alongside a grassy median. The median is slated for the future extension of the Westbank Expressway. This scene shows eastbound Business U.S. 90 as it departs the frontage road onto the freeway portion of the Westbank Expressway. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman/Andy Field (08/02/02).
The Westbank Expressway expands to six lanes overall as it elevates onto a viaduct west of Louisiana 45/Barataria Boulevard. This centerline exit sign shows the first three interchanges of Interstate 910 and is representative of exit signage along the Westbank Expressway. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman/Andy Field (08/02/02).
The first eastbound interchange of Interstate 910 is Exit 4B of Louisiana 45/Barataria Boulevard. The exit numbers utilize mileage of Business U.S. 90 from its terminus at U.S. 90 near the south end of the Huey P. Long Bridge. Louisiana 45, a 24.09 mile route, ends just north of the Westbank Expressway at Louisiana 18. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman/Andy Field (08/02/02).
Interstate 910/Business U.S. 90 eastbound at Exit 4B/Louisiana 45. The next interchange (Exit 5) serves Mac Arthur Boulevard as the Westbank Expressway prepares to cross over the Harvey Canal. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman/Andy Field (08/02/02).
Eastern Terminus - Interstate 10 - New Orleans, Louisiana
Perspective from Interstate 910/Business U.S. 90 west
This flyover ramp brings Interstate 10 westbound travelers onto Interstate 910/Business U.S. 90 westbound. The Pontchartrain Expressway, as it is otherwise known, saw reconstruction between 1993-99 with an expansion of the two two lane viaduct into a modern six-lane roadway. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman/Adam Froehlig (11/12/99).
Perspective from Interstate 10 west
This photo shows the first signage on westbound Interstate 10 approaching Business U.S. 90/Interstate 910, the future terminus of Interstate 49. The junction is situated just north of the Central Business District and the New Orleans Superdome. Photo taken by Steve Hanudel (08/14/05).
Interstate 10 westbound at the Canal Street/French Quarter interchange for downtown New Orleans. The next interchange is the Interstate 910/Business U.S. 90/Westbank Expressway stack. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (03/20/02).
Westbound Interstate 10 approaching Interstate 910/Business U.S. 90. The sprawling interchange was rebuilt during the mid to late 1990s in conjunction with a reconstruction of the Pontchartrain Expressway (Interstate 910/Business U.S. 90). Photo taken by Steve Hanudel (08/14/05).
Westbound Interstate 10 at Interstate 910/Business U.S. 90 split. The nearby Greater New Orleans Bridge is tolled in the northbound direction (a $1 toll is levied on passenger vehicles). Photo taken by Andy Field (10/15/01).
Westbound Interstate 10 merge with traffic from Interstate 910/Business U.S. 90. U.S. 61 (Exit 232) is the next interchange. The left-hand roadway is that of the Pontchartrain Expressway/Interstate 910/Business U.S. 90. U.S. 90 itself travels underneath this interchange complex via Claiborne Avenue. Photo taken by Steve Hanudel (08/14/05).
Next Five Interstate Junctions for Interstate 10 west
Eastbound Interstate 10 approaching Junction Business U.S. 90, one and one-half miles. This is also the northern/eastern terminus of Interstate 910 and future Interstate 49. This guide sign for Exit 234A only features U.S. 90; it omits Business U.S. 90 (and, of course, unsigned Interstate 910) for the Westbank Expressway. Photo taken by Steve Hanudel (08/15/05).
Downtown New Orleans comes into view on eastbound Interstate 10. Sadly, most of this view has changed due to the hurricanes that came through this region shortly after this picture was taken. Hurricane Katrina, with its winds and rain, tore through the roof of the Louisiana Superdome. Similarly, much of the city was inundated as local levees failed. Photo taken by Steve Hanudel (08/15/05).
As Interstate 10 eastbound draws closer to downtown New Orleans, signage shows that the U.S. 90/Exit 234A transition is a left-hand exit. In actuality, Interstate 10 exits from the Ponchartrain Expressway, turning northeast. Photo taken by Steve Hanudel (08/15/05).
Interstate 10 departs the Pontchartrain Expressway toward the Vieux Carre. In this last set of signs, the Business U.S. 90 designation is finally revealed. Business U.S. 90 follows the left lanes of the transition ramp, taking Interstate 910/future Interstate 49 southward across the Mississippi River to the Westbank Expressway. U.S. 90/Claiborne Avenue traffic departs via Exit 234A ahead. Photo taken by Steve Hanudel (08/15/05).
U.S. 90 travels underneath the Interstate 10 viaduct from the east by the New Orleans Superdome as Claiborne Avenue. West of this interchange the highway travels southwestward to Tulane University and the community of Jefferson before crossing the Mississippi River via the Huey P. Long Bridge. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (04/13/03).
Separated from Interstate 10, U.S. 90 and hidden Interstate 910 cross under the ramp that carries mainline Interstate 10 eastbound. U.S. 90 and Business U.S. 90 separate after the Interstate 10 viaduct. Photo taken by Steve Hanudel (08/15/05).
After Interstate 10 exits, the next exit is for Interstate 910/future Interstate 49/Business U.S. 90 west from U.S. 90/Claiborne Avenue. Business U.S. 90 elevates for the remainder of its New Orleans city routing en route to the Greater New Orleans Bridge. Photo taken by Steve Hanudel (08/15/05).
Southeastbound (signed westbound) Business U.S. 90, Interstate 910, and Future Interstate 49 approach the Loyola Street exit. The Louisiana Superdome dominates the view to the east. Photo taken by Steve Hanudel (08/15/05).
After the Tchoupitoulas Street offramp (Exit 11C), Business U.S. 90, Interstate 910, and Future Interstate 49 cross the Mississippi River on the twin Greater New Orleans Bridge. Photo taken by Steve Hanudel (08/15/05).
Now on the Greater New Orleans Bridge, the freeway is signed solely as Business U.S. 90. The freeway continues as the Westbank Expressaway, continuing west to rejoin U.S. 90. Photo taken by Steve Hanudel (08/15/05).
Next Three Interstate Junctions for Interstate 10 east
