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Interstate 12
Interstate 12 (I-12) is an intrastate Interstate
Highway located entirely within the US state of
Louisiana. It spans a total of 85.59 miles (137.74 km)[1]
in an east–west direction from I-10 in Baton Rouge to
an interchange with both I-10 and I-59 in Slidell. Along Interstate 12
the way, it passes through the city of Hammond, where
Republic of West Florida Parkway
it intersects I-55 and US Route 51 (US 51). It also serves
the cities of Ponchatoula and Denham Springs, as well
as the St. Tammany Parish cities of Covington and
Mandeville.

I-12 parallels the older US 190 corridor and traverses

the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain in the
southeastern portion of the state. The Interstate's length
is short for a mainline Interstate and is comparable with
the country's longest auxiliary Interstates. It is one of
the shortest mainline Interstates to terminate at the
same route (I-10) at either end. Apart from serving the Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap
various communities of the North Shore, I-12 acts as a I-12 highlighted in red
long bypass of New Orleans and is heavily used as a
Route information
shortcut for through traffic on I-10. While I-10 curves to
the south to pass through the city limits, I-12 takes a Maintained by Louisiana DOTD
more direct alignment, reducing the distance between Length 85.59 mi[1] (137.74 km)
Baton Rouge and Slidell by about 22 miles (35 km). Existed 1967–present
NHS Entire route
In 1993, the Louisiana State Legislature designated I-12
as the Republic of West Florida Parkway. In 2003, signs Major junctions
identifying the highway's official name and bearing the West end I-10 in Baton Rouge
flag of the Republic of West Florida were erected by the
US 61 in Baton Rouge
Louisiana Department of Transportation and
Development (DOTD) in order to highlight the unique I-55 in Hammond
history of Louisiana's Florida Parishes. US 190 between Covington
and Mandeville
US 11 in Slidell

East end I-10 / I-59 in Slidell

Location
Country United States
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Louisiana is in the process of widening I-12 to three State Louisiana

lanes in each direction in locations such as Covington Parishes East Baton Rouge, Livingston,
and Mandeville where the Interstate is still two lanes in Tangipahoa, St. Tammany
each direction.
Highway system
Interstate Highway System

Route description Main · Auxiliary · Suffixed · Business · Future

Louisiana State Highway System
Interstate · US · State · Scenic

Baton Rouge to ← US 11 LA 12 →

Hammond
From the west, I-12 begins three
miles (4.8 km) east of downtown
Baton Rouge in East Baton Rouge
Parish at an interchange with I-10
Western terminus in Baton Rouge
known as the I-10/I-12 split. While
I-10 heads to the southeast toward
the New Orleans metropolitan area, I-12 proceeds eastward toward the
North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain. Before leaving Baton Rouge, I-12 I-12's eastbound exit to
LA 1249, which leads to the
intersects some of its major arteries, including Louisiana Highway 3064
communities of Baptist and
(LA 3064; Essen Lane) and LA 73 (Jefferson Highway) via LA 1068
Pumpkin Center
(Drusilla Lane). It then passes through a cloverleaf interchange with
US 61 (Airline Highway). These three exits serve several of the area's key
medical and shopping centers, such as the Our Lady of the Lake
Regional Medical Center and Cortana Mall. The final exit in Baton
Rouge is an interchange with LA 3245 (O'Neal Lane), which serves the
Ochsner Medical Center – Baton Rouge and eastern suburbs.[2][3][4]

I-12 reaches the Amite River 1.3 miles (2.1 km) later, where it enters
Livingston Parish and the city of Denham Springs. I-12 skirts the
southern edge of town, providing interchanges with LA 3002 (South
Range Avenue) and LA 1026 (Juban Road). East of Denham springs, I- At the bottom of I-12's
12 skirts the southern edge of Livingston Parish's only other city, eastbound ramp to LA 59,
travelers also find a shield for
Walker. The interstate's sole exit in Walker is exit 15, an interchange
the unrelated I-59, some 20
with LA 447.
miles (32 km) farther east

Past Walker are smaller communities in the eastern half of the parish.
Exits include: LA 63 serving Livingston (exit 22), LA 441 serving Holden (exit 29), and LA 43 serving
Albany and Springfield (exit 32).[2][5][6]

Shortly after crossing the Natalbany River into Tangipahoa Parish, I-12 intersects LA 1249, which
leads to the communities of Baptist and Pumpkin Center. I-12 enters into a cloverleaf interchange 3.2
miles (5.1 km) later with I-55 at the southeast corner of Hammond, the largest city in Tangipahoa
Parish. I-55 heads toward Jackson, Mississippi, on the north and New Orleans on the south. A mile

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(1.6 km) after, US 51 crosses I-12, but the two roads do not intersect. There is instead an interchange
with US 51 Business, which serves downtown Hammond, as well as the city of Ponchatoula to the
south.[2][6][7]

Hammond to Slidell
East of Hammond are two rural exits in southeastern Tangipahoa Parish: LA 3158 (Airport Road) to
Hammond Northshore Regional Airport and LA 445 to Robert.

Just after crossing into St. Tammany Parish, I-12 curves to the southeast and begins to parallel the
North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain. An interchange with LA 1077 serves the town of Madisonville to
the south. The following exit, an interchange with LA 21, also connects to Madisonville as well as the
parish seat of Covington to the north. Immediately before crossing the Tchefuncte River, an exit to
Pinnacle Parkway and East Brewster Road serves the growing shopping area east of LA 21.

Two miles (3.2 km) east of the bridge, I-12 passes through an interchange with US 190 between
Covington and Mandeville. This section of US 190 serves as St. Tammany Parish's busiest north–
south thoroughfare, connecting Covington and surrounding points with the Lake Pontchartrain
Causeway, a 24-mile-long (39 km) bridge leading to New Orleans. Further exits in St. Tammany
Parish west of Slidell include LA 59 to Mandeville and Abita Springs, LA 1088 to LA 36, and LA 434 to
Lacombe.[2][6][8]

I-12 passes through an interchange with Airport Drive 6.3 miles (10.1 km) east of the Lacombe exit,
which connects to Slidell Airport due north. At this exit, I-12 enters the northern edge of Slidell. An
interchange with US 11 connects to the downtown area. Less than two miles (3.2 km) later, I-12
reaches its eastern terminus at a major interchange with I-10 and I-59 at the northeast corner of town.
From this interchange, I-10 heads southwest toward New Orleans and east toward Bay St. Louis,
Mississippi, while I-59 heads north toward Hattiesburg, Mississippi.[2][6][9]

History
I-12 was added to the highway system on October 17, 1957, with I-12 running from I-10 in Baton
Rouge to I-59 north of Slidell.[10] By the mid-1960s, the routes had been realigned to their current
configuration, with I-12 and I-59 both ending at I-10 near Slidell.[11] The route was opened to traffic in
several sections between January 1967 and June 1976.[12][13]

With major damage to the I-10 Twin Span Bridge across Lake Pontchartrain from Hurricane Katrina,
I-12 was temporarily functioning as I-10 between Baton Rouge and Slidell. On October 14, 2005, the
eastbound span of I-10 over Lake Pontchartrain reopened to two-way traffic. The westbound span of
I-10 reopened on January 6, 2006, with speed, weight and size restrictions, relieving I-12 of much of
the congestion that was clogging it from the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway to the junction with I-10
and I-59.

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Since 2012, the DOTD has been widening the Interstate from four lanes to six lanes to accommodate
the increasing amount of traffic and make the section safer.[14][15][16][17][18] The I-10/I-12/I-59 split,
notorious for rough pavement, was repaved in 2015.

Exit list

Parish Location mi[19] km Exit Destinations Notes

Western
terminus;
0.000– 0.000– I-10 – Baton Rouge, New Orleans signed as exit
1A
0.903 1.453 1A to I-10 east
only; exit 159
on I-10

1.223– 1.968– LA 3064 (Essen Lane) No westbound

1B
1.649 2.654 exit
Eastbound
2.204– 3.547– LA 1068 (Drusilla Lane) to LA 73 entrance and
1C
2.275 3.661 westbound
(Jefferson Highway) exit

East Baton Baton Signed as

Rouge Rouge exits 2A
(south) and
2.608– 4.197– US 61 (Airline Highway) 2B (north); to
2
3.206 5.160 Hammond
Aire Plaza and
Mall at
Cortana

3.807– 6.127–
4 Sherwood Forest Boulevard
4.447 7.157
5.707– 9.185–
6 Millerville Road
6.498 10.458

6.844– 11.014– Former LA

7 O'Neal Lane
7.454 11.996 3245

East Baton
Rouge– 8.410– 13.535–
Bridge over Amite River
Livingston Denham 8.902 14.326
parish line Springs
Livingston 10.040– 16.158–
10 LA 3002 – Denham Springs
10.599 17.057

12.442– 20.023– LA 1026 (Juban Road)

​ 12
13.033 20.975

15.711– 25.284– LA 447 – Walker, Port Vincent

Walker 15
16.338 26.293
19.604– 31.550–
​ 19 PR 45 – Satsuma, Colyell
20.359 32.765

22.602– 36.374– LA 63 – Livingston, Frost

Livingston 22
23.468 37.768

28.667– 46.135– LA 441 – Holden

​ 29
29.745 47.870
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32.504– 52.310– LA 43 – Albany, Springfield To Tickfaw

​ 32
33.334 53.646 State Park
34.848– 56.082–
​ 35 LA 1249 – Baptist, Pumpkin Center
35.562 57.231

Signed as
exits 38A
38.015– 61.179– I-55 – New Orleans, Jackson
38 (south) and
38.735 62.338
38B (north);
Hammond exit 29 on I-55

40.016– 64.400–
40 US 51 Bus. – Hammond, Ponchatoula
40.595 65.331

Tangipahoa Southern
terminus of
LA 3158; to
Chappapeela
42.378– 68.201– Sports Park
​ 42 LA 3158 north (Airport Road)
43.156 69.453 and
Hammond
Northshore
Regional
Airport

47.418– 76.312–
​ 47 LA 445 – Robert
48.184 77.545

St. To Fairview
56.702– 91.253–
Tammany ​ 57 LA 1077 – Goodbee, Madisonville Riverside
57.855 93.109
State Park
59.101– 95.114–
​ 59 LA 21 – Covington, Madisonville
60.138 96.783

60.220– 96.915–
​ 60 Pinnacle Parkway / East Brewster Road
60.958 98.102

60.953– 98.094–
​ Bridge over Tchefuncte River
61.240 98.556
Signed as
exits 63A
(east) and
63B (west);
additional
62.580– 100.713– destinations
​ 63 US 190 – Covington, Mandeville
63.565 102.298 are New
Orleans via
Lake
Pontchartrain
Causeway
and Bogalusa

65.710– 105.750–
​ 65 LA 59 – Abita Springs, Mandeville
66.387 106.840

68.195– 109.749–
​ 68 LA 1088 to LA 36 – Mandeville
69.101 111.207

73.995– 119.083– to future LA

Lacombe 74 LA 434 – Lacombe, St. Tammany
74.773 120.335 3241

Slidell 80.160– 129.005– 80 Airport Drive / North Shore Boulevard To Slidell

81.149 130.597 Municipal
Airport and
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Camp Villere /
Southeast
Louisiana
Veterans
Cemetery

83.620– 134.573– US 11 – Slidell, Pearl River

83
84.152 135.430
Eastern
terminus of I-
12; southern
terminus of I-
59; signed as
85.375– 137.398– I-10 / I-59 – New Orleans, Bay St. exits 85A (I-10
85
86.653 139.454 Louis, Hattiesburg west), 85B (I-
59) and 85C
(I-10 east);
exit 267B on I-
10; exit 1C on
I-59

1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Incomplete access

See also
U.S. Roads portal

References
1. Starks, Edward (January 27, 2022). "Table 1: Main Routes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National
System of Interstate and Defense Highways" (https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highwa
y_system/interstate_highway_system/routefinder/table01.cfm). FHWA Route Log and Finder List.
Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
2. "Overview Map of I-12" (https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=I-12+(Western+Terminus)&daddr=
30.4792386,-90.50629+to:I-12+(Eastern+Terminus)&hl=en&ll=30.39183,-90.373535&spn=1.3053
74,2.705383&sll=30.46791,-90.487518&sspn=0.163049,0.338173&geocode=FQsp0AEdFpyR-g%
3BFYYT0QEdzvua-iljELVgyyMnhjEnqb-kuQ5Jdg%3BFQhjzgEdStOm-g&mra=dpe&mrsp=1&sz=1
2&via=1&t=m&z=9) (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
3. East Baton Rouge Parish (http://www.dotd.la.gov/planning/mapping/Parish%20Maps/East_Baton_
Rouge.pdf) (PDF) (Map). Cartography by La DOTD Office of Multimodal Planning. Louisiana
Department of Transportation and Development. February 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
4. District 61: Official Control Section Map / Construction and Maintenance (https://web.archive.org/
web/20131017060653/http://www.dotd.la.gov/planning/mapping/District%20Maps/District_61.pdf)
(PDF) (Map). Cartography by La DOTD Office of Multimodal Planning. Louisiana Department of
Transportation and Development. February 2012. Archived from the original (http://www.dotd.la.go
v/planning/mapping/District%20Maps/District_61.pdf) (PDF) on October 17, 2013. Retrieved
June 13, 2013.
5. Livingston Parish (http://www.dotd.la.gov/planning/mapping/Parish%20Maps/Livingston.pdf)
(PDF) (Map). Cartography by La DOTD Office of Multimodal Planning. Louisiana Department of
Transportation and Development. February 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2013.

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6. District 62: Official Control Section Map / Construction and Maintenance (https://web.archive.org/
web/20131017060653/http://www.dotd.la.gov/planning/mapping/District%20Maps/District_62.pdf)
(PDF) (Map). Cartography by La DOTD Office of Multimodal Planning. Louisiana Department of
Transportation and Development. February 2012. Archived from the original (http://www.dotd.la.go
v/planning/mapping/District%20Maps/District_62.pdf) (PDF) on October 17, 2013. Retrieved
June 13, 2013.
7. Tangipahoa Parish (South Section) (https://web.archive.org/web/20120826055316/http://www.dot
d.la.gov/planning/mapping/Parish%20Maps/Tangipahoa_South.pdf) (PDF) (Map). Cartography by
La DOTD Office of Multimodal Planning. Louisiana Department of Transportation and
Development. February 2012. Archived from the original (http://www.dotd.la.gov/planning/mappin
g/Parish%20Maps/Tangipahoa_South.pdf) (PDF) on August 26, 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
8. St. Tammany Parish (West Section) (http://www.dotd.la.gov/planning/mapping/Parish%20Maps/St
_Tammany_West.pdf) (PDF) (Map). Cartography by La DOTD Office of Multimodal Planning.
Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. February 2012. Retrieved June 13,
2013.
9. St. Tammany Parish (East Section) (https://web.archive.org/web/20120829235547/http://www.dot
d.la.gov/planning/mapping/Parish%20Maps/St_Tammany_East.pdf) (PDF) (Map). Cartography by
La DOTD Office of Multimodal Planning. Louisiana Department of Transportation and
Development. February 2012. Archived from the original (http://www.dotd.la.gov/planning/mappin
g/Parish%20Maps/St_Tammany_East.pdf) (PDF) on August 29, 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
10. Routes to Be Added to the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways (https://common
s.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Interstate_Highway_plan_October_17,_1957_reverse_colors.jpg) (Map).
Bureau of Public Roads. October 17, 1957. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
11. The National System of Interstate and Defense Highways (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fil
e:Interstate_Highway_status_unknown_date.jpg) (Map). Bureau of Public Roads. c. 1963.
Retrieved December 8, 2012.
12. "State Highway Work Sets All-Time Mark". The Times-Picayune. New Orleans. January 29, 1967.
pp. 8–11.
13. "Final I-12 Link Opening Today". The Times-Picayune. New Orleans. June 25, 1976. pp. 2–11.
14. "La DOTD - Projects" (http://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/public_info/projects/home.aspx?
key=10). wwwapps.dotd.la.gov. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
15. Ferrando, Erika (October 6, 2020). "Construction happening now to widen I-12 in St. Tammany
Parish" (https://www.wwltv.com/article/news/local/northshore/construction-happening-now-to-wide
n-i-12-in-st-tammany-parish/289-1a616498-f52f-4ae4-a9db-03c97b5f59bc). WWL-TV. Retrieved
March 19, 2023.
16. "I-12 Widening St. Tammany Parish – Benefits of Transportation" (https://benefits.transportation.or
g/i-12-widening-st-tammany-parish/). benefits.transportation.org. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
17. "I-12 Widening (US190 – LA 59) - Louisiana | T Baker Smith Portfolio" (https://tbsmith.com/portfoli
o-items/12-widening-us190-la-59/). T. Baker Smith. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
18. "Gov. Edwards, DOTD Break Ground on I-12 Expansion in St. Tammany Parish" (https://gov.louisi
ana.gov/index.cfm/newsroom/detail/2716). gov.louisiana.gov. October 5, 2020. Retrieved
March 20, 2023.
19. "La DOTD GIS Data" (http://wwwsp.dotd.la.gov/Inside_LaDOTD/Divisions/Mgmt_Finance/GIS/Pa
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2015. Retrieved May 23, 2017.

External links
La DOTD State, District, and Parish Maps (https://web.archive.org/web/20130526094137/http://w

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ww.dotd.la.gov/planning/mapping/home.aspx)

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Interstate_12&oldid=1245130311"

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