Louisiana Highway 86

LA 86 is an undivided two-lane highway for its entire length. It is generally classified as a rural major or minor collector by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (La DOTD). However, the portions of the route running through New Iberia and Loreauville are classified as an urban minor arterial and an urban collector, respectively. Daily traffic volume in 2013 averaged 10,900 vehicles over most of the route between New Iberia and Loreauville, peaking at 13,300 through the former. The lowest figure reported was 1,650 vehicles through the Daspit area.[1]

The posted speed limit is generally 55 mph (90 km/h), reduced to 35 mph (55 km/h) through St. Martinville and 30 mph (50 km/h) through Loreauville.[2]

The entirety of LA 86 is part of the Bayou Teche Byway in the state-designated system of tourist routes known as the Louisiana Scenic Byways.[5]

In the original Louisiana Highway system in use between 1921 and 1955, the modern LA 86 was part of two separate routes.

The section from the southern terminus to the present intersection with LA 3242 in Loreauville made up the majority of State Route 56.[6] It was designated in 1921 by an act of the state legislature as one of the original 98 state highway routes.[7]

Route 56. Beginning at New Iberia, thence through Loreauville to Dautrive's[sic] Landing.

— 1921 legislative route description[7]

While LA 86 continues from Loreauville around the northern bend in Bayou Teche, Route 56 turned east in Loreauville to follow the entirety of what is now LA 3242 to Lake Dauterive. The route remained the same up to the 1955 Louisiana Highway renumbering.[6]

The remainder of the present route of LA 86 from Loreauville to the north side of New Iberia was generally designated as State Route 446 in the pre-1955 system.[6] Route 446 was added to the state highway system in 1928 by an act of the state legislature.[8]

Route 446. Beginning at St. Martin Parish line in Iberia Parish on the east bank of Bayou Teche thence following Bayou Teche on its east bank to meet Route 56 at Loreauville.

— 1928 legislative route description[8]

The only difference in the pre-1955 route is that instead of crossing Bayou Teche at Daspit, Route 446 turned northwest to follow what is now LA 347 for a short distance to the St. Martin Parish line. The short section of LA 86 connecting to LA 31 (pre-1955 State Route 25) was not part of the state highway system at that time. Route 446 remained the same up to the 1955 renumbering.[6]

LA 86 was created in 1955 as a collective renumbering of former State Route 446 and the majority of State Route 56.[9]

La 86—From a junction with La-US 90 at or near New Iberia through or near Morbihan and Loreauville to a junction with La 31 near New Iberia.

— 1955 legislative route description[9]

The route description reflects the fact that the southern terminus in New Iberia was once a junction with US 90.[10] This changed around 1969 when US 90 was moved onto its current alignment through the area. LA 182 was then extended to cover the former route.[11][12] Apart from the smoothing of some curves, only a minor change has been made to the route of LA 86 since the 1955 renumbering. US 90 (current LA 182) became a four-lane highway through New Iberia around 1964 when a one-way couplet was created along Main and St. Peter Streets.[13][14] Main Street had formerly carried both directions of traffic. In order to meet the new eastbound lanes of US 90, the LA 86 designation was extended one block from Main to St. Peter Street. Also in 1964, the current swing bridge over Bayou Teche at Daspit was constructed, replacing an older span at that location.[10][15]