Louisiana Highway 111

Louisiana Highway 111 marker

Louisiana Highway 111

Route of LA 111 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by Louisiana DOTD
Length: 45.722 mi[1] (73.582 km)
Existed: 1955 renumbering – present
Tourist
routes:		 Toledo Bend Forest Scenic Byway
Major junctions
South end: US 190 in Junction
 
North end: LA 117 northeast of Leesville
Location
Parishes: Beauregard, Vernon
Highway system
  • Louisiana Highway System
← LA 110LA 112 →

Louisiana Highway 111 (LA 111) is a state highway located in western Louisiana. It runs 45.72 miles (73.58 km) in a general north–south direction from U.S. Highway 190 (US 190) in Junction to LA 117 northeast of Leesville.

The route parallels the Texas state line, located along the Sabine River, from a point north of Merryville to the south end of the Toledo Bend Reservoir. Its direction then changes from north–south to east–west as it bends around the northwest side of the Leesville area, though this is not reflected on its directional banners. During this stretch, the highway crosses Vernon Lake and passes through the village of Anacoco, where it intersects US 171. A lightly traveled rural route, LA 111 also provides access to the Toledo Bend Dam and South Toledo Bend State Park.

LA 111 was designated in the 1955 Louisiana Highway renumbering, replacing a small portion of former State Route 143, which consisted of several disconnected roadways that paralleled the Sabine River between Starks and Logansport. LA 111 also replaced most of State Route 138 and all of State Route 414, which existed on either side of Anacoco.

Route description

From the south, LA 111 begins at a junction with US 190 in Junction, a small community located in the northwest corner of Beauregard Parish. US 190 connects with Merryville to the south and DeRidder to the east. LA 111 heads north and crosses a bridge over Bayou Anacoco, simultaneously entering Vernon Parish.[2][3][4] Shortly afterward, LA 464 begins, splitting off to the northeast. Over the next 13 miles (21 km), LA 111 continues through a sparsely populated pine forest with small clusters of residences visible at points such as Almadane and Evans. It then reaches a T-intersection with LA 8 (Nolan Trace Parkway) at Burr Ferry, located less than two miles (3.2 km) from the Texas state line at the Sabine River.[2][5][6]

LA 111 turns east briefly onto LA 8 before resuming its northern trajectory, while LA 8 continues ahead toward the city of Leesville. LA 111 proceeds north for 9.4 miles (15.1 km) before reaching another T-intersection with LA 392, which leads to the Toledo Bend Dam and South Toledo Bend State Park. LA 111 turns east, forming a longer concurrency with LA 392. The highway permanently changes its direction from north–south to east–west, although the directional banners on its signage remain the same. Five miles (8.0 km) later, LA 392 turns to the north toward Hornbeck, while LA 111 continues straight ahead and crosses two short bridges over Vernon Lake.[2][5][6]

Soon afterward, the highway enters the village of Anacoco, where it becomes known as Port Arthur Avenue. In the center of town, LA 111 crosses the Kansas City Southern Railway (KCS) tracks and the four-lane US 171 (Main Street) in quick succession. The route continues 8.8 miles (14.2 km) further to its terminus at a T-intersection with LA 117 between Leesville and Kurthwood.[2][5][6]

Route classification and data

LA 111 is an undivided two-lane highway for its entire length. It is classified as a rural major collector by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (La DOTD).[7] Daily traffic volume in 2013 peaked at 2,500 vehicles between LA 392 north and Anacoco. A low count of 520 vehicles was reported east of the village and extending to LA 117.[7] The posted speed limit is generally 55 mph (90 km/h) but is reduced to 35 mph (55 km/h) in Anacoco.[2]

The portion of LA 111 between US 190 and US 171 is part of the Toledo Bend Forest Scenic Byway in the state-designated system of tourist routes known as the Louisiana Scenic Byways.[8]

History

In the original Louisiana Highway system in use prior to 1955, LA 111 was part of three different routes. The north–south portion was a small part of State Route 143,[9][10][11] a designation which encompassed several disconnected roadways running parallel to the Sabine River between Starks and Logansport. The east–west section made up the majority of State Route 138 as far as Anacoco then continued east of town as State Route 414.[11] These routes were designated in two acts of the state legislature in 1926 and 1928,[12] adding to the original 98 routes defined in 1921.[13]

The modern LA 111 was created in 1955 when the Louisiana Department of Highways renumbered the entire state highway system.[14]

Class "B": La 111—From a junction with La-US 190 at or near Junction through or near Evans to a junction with La 8 at or near Burr Ferry.
Class "C": La 111—From a junction with La 8 at or near Burr Ferry through or near Haddins Ferry and Anacoco to a junction with La 117 north of Leesville.
— 1955 legislative route description[14]

With the 1955 renumbering, the state highway department initially categorized all routes into three classes: "A" (primary), "B" (secondary), and "C" (farm-to-market).[15] This system has since been updated and replaced by a more specific functional classification system.

Only a few minor changes have been made to the route over the years, mostly in connection with bridge replacements. The impoundment of Anacoco Creek in 1963[16] necessitated the construction of two new bridges across what was now the wider Vernon Lake. The bridges were constructed in 1966[17][18] just north of the former creek crossing and allowed a slight straightening of the roadway at that point.[5][19] In 1992,[20] the replacement of a bridge across Mill Creek at Almadane led to a curve in the roadway being bypassed there.[5][21] In the late 1990s, a portion of LA 111 heading into Anacoco was relocated, eliminating several zigzags and a right-angle turn next to the KCS Railway grade crossing.[22] The route originally made four right-angle turns as it followed Trigger Trap Road, West Street, and Front Street through town.

Major intersections

ParishLocationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
BeauregardJunction0.000–
0.022		0.000–
0.035		 US 190 – Merryville, DeRidderSouthern terminus
Vernon​2.9734.785 LA 464 northSouthern terminus of LA 464
Burr Ferry16.30326.237 LA 8 west (Nolan Trace Parkway) – JasperSouth end of LA 8 concurrency
16.83327.090 LA 8 east (Nolan Trace Parkway) – LeesvilleNorth end of LA 8 concurrency
​26.19942.163 LA 392 west – Toledo Bend DamSouth end of LA 392 concurrency; to South Toledo Bend State Park
​31.37050.485 LA 392 east – HornbeckNorth end of LA 392 concurrency
Anacoco36.91359.406 US 171 (Main Street) – Leesville, Many
​45.72273.582 LA 117 – Leesville, KurthwoodNorthern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "La DOTD GIS Data". Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. September 2015. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Google (August 20, 2016). "Overview Map of LA 111" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  3. ↑ Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Office of Multimodal Planning (February 2012). Beauregard Parish (West Section) (PDF) (Map). Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  4. ↑ Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Office of Multimodal Planning (July 2012). District 07: Official Control Section Map / Construction and Maintenance (PDF) (Map). Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Office of Multimodal Planning (February 2012). Vernon Parish (West Section) (PDF) (Map). Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Office of Multimodal Planning (February 2012). District 08: Official Control Section Map / Construction and Maintenance (PDF) (Map). Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  7. 1 2 "La DOTD GIS". Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Toledo Bend Forest Scenic Byway". America's Scenic Byways. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  9. ↑ Louisiana Department of Highways Traffic and Planning Section (1949). Beauregard Parish (North Section) (Map) (January 1, 1955 ed.). Louisiana Department of Highways.
  10. ↑ Louisiana Department of Highways Traffic and Planning Section (1947). Vernon Parish (South Section) (Map) (January 1, 1955 ed.). Louisiana Department of Highways.
  11. 1 2 Louisiana Department of Highways Traffic and Planning Section (1947). Vernon Parish (North Section) (Map) (January 1, 1955 ed.). Louisiana Department of Highways.
  12. ↑ "Act No. 294, House Bill No. 791". State-Times. Baton Rouge. July 31, 1928. p. 9B.
  13. ↑ "Act No. 95, House Bill No. 206". State-Times. Baton Rouge. November 29, 1921. p. 9.
  14. 1 2 "Act No. 40, House Bill No. 311". State-Times. Baton Rouge. June 18, 1955. pp. 3B–4B.
  15. ↑ "Engineering Directives and Standards: Authorization and Definition of the State Highway System". Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. January 18, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  16. ↑ "Vernon Lake: Lake History & Management Issues" (PDF). Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. April 2014. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  17. ↑ "National Bridge Inventory Data: LA0111 Over Anacoco Creek Relief". Ugly Bridges. 2014. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  18. ↑ "National Bridge Inventory Data: LA0111 Over Anacoco Creek". Ugly Bridges. 2014. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  19. ↑ Louisiana Department of Highways Traffic and Planning Section (1956). Vernon Parish (North Section) (Map) (January 1, 1958 ed.). Louisiana Department of Highways.
  20. ↑ "National Bridge Inventory Data: LA0111 Over Mill Creek". Ugly Bridges. 2013. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  21. ↑ Louisiana Department of Highways Traffic and Planning Section (1956). Vernon Parish (South Section) (Map) (January 1, 1958 ed.). Louisiana Department of Highways.
  22. ↑ Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Planning Division (1994). Vernon Parish (North Section) (Map) (1995 ed.). Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development.

External links

Route map: Bing / Google

KML is from Wikidata
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 8/20/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.