Louisiana Highway 96 (LA 96) is a state highway located in southern Louisiana. It runs in an east–west direction from LA 182 in Broussard to LA 352 east of Catahoula.
The route passes through St. Martinville, the seat of St. Martin Parish, located on Bayou Teche. It connects the city with U.S. Highway 90 (US 90), the main highway through the Teche region, just southeast of Lafayette. East of St. Martinville, LA 96 travels to the small community of Catahoula, which is located on Catahoula Lake at the edge of the Atchafalaya Basin.
Route description
From the west, LA 96 begins at an intersection with LA 182 (Old Spanish Trail) in an area within the Broussard city limits known as Billeaud. This intersection is located about from an interchange with US 90, connecting with the larger adjacent city of Lafayette as well as New Iberia. LA 96 heads east on Terrace Highway and initially passes a few small industrial establishments before entering an area of light suburban development. After , the highway crosses from Lafayette Parish into St. Martin Parish. Soon afterward, LA 96 crosses over a small coulee as the surroundings become rural. The route makes a sharp dip to the south before proceeding in a southeast direction into the small city of St. Martinville.
LA 96 follows West Port Street through town to an intersection with LA 31 (Main Street), the main north–south thoroughfare. It then turns north to follow LA 31 for one block, flanked by a series of historic storefronts and a large Catholic church. Signs direct motorists to continue straight ahead on LA 31 to reach the Longfellow-Evangeline State Historic Site while LA 96 turns east onto East Bridge Street. Shortly afterward, the highway crosses a swing bridge over Bayou Teche dating from 1942. Two blocks east of the bayou, LA 96 intersects LA 347 (Cemetery Road), signed as the truck route through town. The two highways run concurrent for one block past the local cemetery, and LA 347 turns north onto Resweber Street.
LA 96 continues straight ahead out of St. Martinville and becomes known as Catahoula Highway. It then curves to the northeast at an intersection with LA 345, which heads south toward Loreauville. Less than later, LA 96 intersects LA 679, which heads through an area known as Coteau Holmes. Over the next , LA 96 continues in a general northeast direction, curving here and there through rural farmland mixed with light suburban development. Along the way, it passes through points known as Isle Labbe and Catahoula Cove. LA 96 then enters the small community of Catahoula and serves as its main thoroughfare. The route curves to the southeast and briefly parallels a wide section of a bayou called Catahoula Lake. It then turns northeast to cross a bridge over the waterway and proceeds a short distance to its terminus at LA 352, known as Catahoula Levee Road to the north and Bayou Benoit Levee Road to the south. Straight ahead across the levee are the vast wetlands of the Atchafalaya Basin.
Route classification and data
LA 96 is generally classified by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (La DOTD) as a rural major collector west of St. Martinville, an urban minor arterial through town, and a rural minor collector east of town. Daily traffic volume in 2013 averaged between 6,500 and 8,100 vehicles west of St. Martinville, peaking at 10,100 at the Bayou Teche bridge. The lighter traveled portion of the route between St. Martinville and Catahoula averaged 2,200 vehicles daily. The posted speed limit is generally , reduced to through St. Martinville and Catahoula.
The portion of LA 96 between St. Martinville and Catahoula is part of the Bayou Teche Byway in the state-designated system of tourist routes known as the Louisiana Scenic Byways.
History
Pre-1955 route numbering
In the original Louisiana Highway system in use between 1921 and 1955, the modern LA 96 was part of two separate routes.
Western section
The section from the western terminus to the present intersection with LA 31 in St. Martinville was designated as State Route 479. It was added to the state highway system in 1928 by an act of the state legislature.
