Interstate 210 (Louisiana)

Interstate 210 (I-210) in Louisiana, also known as the Lake Charles Bypass, is a 12.40-mile-long (19.96 km) bypass route in Lake Charles, in the southwestern part of the state.[1][2] As a bypass of I-10, both ends of I-210 meet with I-10.

Interstate 210
Lake Charles Bypass
I-210 highlighted in red
Route information
Auxiliary route of I-10
Maintained by Louisiana DOTD
Length	12.40 mi[1] (19.96 km)
Existed	1962–present
Major junctions
West end	I-10 east of Sulphur
	US 90 in Lake Charles
East end	I-10 northeast of Lake Charles
Location
Parishes	Calcasieu
Highway system
Interstate Highway System Main Auxiliary Suffixed Business Future Louisiana Highway System Interstate U.S. State Scenic ← LA 191 → I-220

Route description

Israel LaFleur Bridge

The western terminus connects with I-10 east of Sulphur, heading southeast as it bypasses central Lake Charles around the southside. A mile east of the western terminus, I-210 rises over the Israel LaFleur Bridge, one of the highest bridges in the Interstate Highway System, to pass over the Calcasieu Ship Channel. At the southeastern end of the bridge, the highway meets with exit 3, Prien Lake Road, eastbound. I-210 heads east through Lake Charles, turning 90 degrees at exit 8, LA 14/Gerstner Memorial Drive. The highway then heads north towards its eastern terminus with I-10 just east of Lake Charles. Though portions of the freeway run north-south, the entire route is signed east-west.

All of I-210 is included as part of the National Highway System, a system of roadways important to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility.[3]

History

I-210, including the Israel LaFleur Bridge, was constructed between its western terminus and Prien Lake Road circa 1963 to 1965.[4] Initially, the western terminus at I-10 consisted solely of eastbound entrance and westbound exit ramps. The eastern remainder of I-210 was built circa 1975 to 1976,[5] and westbound entrance/eastbound exit ramps were added to the western terminus in 1986.[6]

Much of the area surrounding I-210 in southern Lake Charles was developed prior to construction of the freeway. As a result, many homes and businesses in its path were demolished.

The freeway remained largely unchanged from its original configuration until 2005, when construction of the L'Auberge du Lac Casino Resort resulted in the addition of a ramp linked to the Nelson Road interchange. Between 2013 and 2015, the Prien Lake Road interchange was rebuilt to allow access to the Golden Nugget Lake Charles.

During the planning phase of the freeway, it was known as the South City Bypass. Older signage (prior to the 2000s) referred to the road as the Lake Charles Loop.

Exit list

The entire highway is in Calcasieu Parish.

Location	mi[2]	km	Exit	Destinations	Notes
​	0.0– 0.7	0.0– 1.1	1B	I-10 – Beaumont, Lake Charles	Western terminus; exit number signed to I-10 east only; exit 25 on I-10
​	0.5	0.80	1A	East Sulphur, Industries	Eastbound entrance and westbound exit; to Pete Manena Road (not signed)
Lake Charles	1.5– 3.1	2.4– 5.0	Israel LaFleur Bridge over Calcasieu Ship Channel / Indian Bay
	3.2	5.1	3	Prien Lake Road, Golden Nugget Boulevard
	4.1– 4.7	6.6– 7.6	4	LA 1138-2 (Nelson Road), L'Auberge Boulevard
	5.4– 5.7	8.7– 9.2	5	Lake Street
	6.1– 6.6	9.8– 10.6	6	LA 385 (Ryan Street)
	6.9– 7.5	11.1– 12.1	7	Enterprise Boulevard, Louisiana Avenue
	8.4– 9.0	13.5– 14.5	8	LA 14 – Cameron	To Gerstner Memorial Drive (not signed)
	10.1– 10.7	16.3– 17.2	10	Legion Street	Legion Street is LA 1138-3 (not signed)
	11.0– 11.9	17.7– 19.2	11	US 90 Bus. (Broad Street) / US 90 (Fruge Street)	Eastbound exit and westbound entrance for Broad Street; eastbound entrance and westbound exit for Fruge Street
​	12.2– 12.7	19.6– 20.4	12	I-10 – Lake Charles, Lafayette	Eastern terminus; exit number signed for I-10 west only; exit 34 on I-10
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Incomplete access

References

1. Staff (October 31, 2002). "Table 1: Main Routes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System Of Interstate and Defense Highways as of October 31, 2002". Route Log and Finder List. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
2. Google (July 12, 2013). "Overview Map of I-210" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
3. "National Highway System: Lake Charles, LA" (PDF). United States Department of Transportation. October 1, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2013.
4. Google (March 7, 2017). "Westlake, Louisiana" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved March 7, 2017.
   Google (March 7, 2017). "I-210" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved March 7, 2017.
   Construction of the Interstate 210 Bridge (jpeg) (photograph). Lake Charles, Louisiana: McNeese State University. March 1965. Retrieved March 7, 2017.
5. Interstate 210 construction (jpeg) (photograph). Lake Charles, Louisiana: McNeese State University. 1975. Retrieved March 7, 2017.
   Highway 14/I-210 bypass construction of overpass (jpeg) (photograph). Lake Charles, Louisiana: McNeese State University. 1976. Retrieved March 7, 2017.
6. Google (March 7, 2017). "Westlake, Louisiana" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved March 7, 2017.

See also