Louisiana Highway 6

In the original Louisiana Highway system in use between 1921 and 1955, the modern LA 6 comprised the western segment of the original State Route 6,[9][10][11] a rare case of numerical duplication between the two systems. While Route 6 was a cross-state route, the current highway only covers one-third of its counterpart's former route. From the present eastern terminus in Clarence, Route 6 continued eastward through Winnfield, Jena, Jonesville, and Ferriday to the Mississippi state line at Vidalia, located opposite the Mississippi River from Natchez.[12] In 1934, US 84 was extended west into Louisiana over this route.[lower-alpha 1][13][14] While the pre-1955 system maintained state route designations on all U.S. Highways in the state, the 1955 Louisiana Highway renumbering eliminated unnecessary concurrencies of this sort, leaving only US 84 on the eastern segment.[15]

Since the 1955 renumbering, the route of LA 6 has seen no major alignment changes apart from its shift onto a bypass around Natchitoches around the 1990s. LA 1 and LA 6 originally followed their current business routes through town. In 1975, the Natchitoches Bypass (constructed as LA 3110) was opened, relocating LA 1 on its current route, looping around the south and west side of town.[16][17] LA 1 Bus. and LA 3191 were created at this time to cover the original route. Around 1980, a road was constructed to connect LA 6 with the LA 1 bypass on the north side of town.[18][19] It was originally designated as LA 3175 and became part of LA 6 by the mid-1990s.[20] LA 6 then became concurrent with LA 1 running along Sibley Lake, and LA 6 Bus. was created along the original route through Natchitoches.[20]

Other alignment changes have resulted from the construction of bridges and the smoothing out of curves along much of the route. LA 6 originally entered Louisiana by crossing the Sabine River on a bridge built in 1937 at the former community of Pendleton, Texas. The current bridge, much longer in length, was constructed in 1963 when the river became part of the Toledo Bend Reservoir. Two miles of previously dry land at the western end of LA 6, an area formerly known as East Pendleton, are now under water crossed by the current bridge, which follows a slightly straighter alignment than the old road.[3][21] Approaching the eastern terminus at Clarence, LA 6 originally crossed the Red River at Grand Ecore on a now-demolished bridge that existed immediately to the east of the current span built in 1959.[7][22]

Much of LA 6 between Many and Natchitoches was reconstructed around the 1970s, straightening several sharp curves and zigzags. Fragments of the original route surviving today as local roads include: Shawnee Town Loop northeast of Many; Stoker Loop immediately northeast of Fort Jesup; Stewart Loop and Clower Loop between Fort Jesup and Robeline; Parish Road 648 (Johnny Floyd Road) northeast of Robeline; and Parish Road 542 (Old LA 6) on the west side of I-49. Two additional segments are still part of the state highway system. The first, LA 3118, serves the bypassed Fort Jesup State Historic Site. The second, LA 3278, is located at the west end of Natchitoches adjacent to I-49.[6][7][22][23]

Louisiana Highway 6 Business (LA 6 Bus.) follows the original route of LA 6 through Natchitoches prior to its re-routing onto the Natchitoches Bypass around the 1990s.[24]

From the intersection of LA 1 and LA 6 on the west side of town, LA 6 Bus. heads east on University Parkway, a divided four-lane roadway. As it passes alongside the Northwestern State University campus, the roadway narrows to two lanes with a center turning lane. Reaching an intersection with LA 1223 (Mill Street), LA 6 Bus. turns northward onto Jefferson Street, an undivided two-lane roadway, and enters the Natchitoches Historic District. Now running along the west bank of the Cane River Lake, LA 6 Bus. intersects LA 494 (Keyser Avenue), which traverses the eastern part of town on the opposite bank. Entering the downtown area, the roadway maintains a brick surface in keeping with its historic surroundings. At Church Street, LA 6 Bus. intersects LA 1 Bus. and LA 3191. Leaving the downtown area, LA 6 makes a slight jog onto Washington Street where it regains its modern road surface. 1.5 miles (2.4 km) later, LA 6 Bus. rejoins its parent route, which intersects from the west.[4][7][24]

The entire highway is in Natchitoches, Natchitoches Parish.

mi[1]	km	Destinations	Notes
0.000	0.000	LA 1 / LA 6 east – Alexandria, Shreveport LA 6 west (University Parkway) to I-49 – Many	Western terminus; to Natchitoches Regional Airport
1.192– 1.211	1.918– 1.949	LA 1223 south (Mill Street) – Alexandria	Northern terminus of LA 1223; to Natchitoches Regional Airport
1.445	2.326	LA 494 west (Keyser Avenue)	Northern terminus of LA 494
1.928	3.103	LA 1 Bus. (Church Street)
3.585	5.769	LA 6 – Clarence, Shreveport	Eastern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

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