U.S. Route 63 in Louisiana

U.S. Highway 63 marker
U.S. Highway 63
Map
Route of US 63 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by Louisiana DOTD
Length35.402 mi[1] (56.974 km)
Existed1999–present
Major junctions
South end I-20 / US 167 / LA 146 in Ruston
Major intersections
North end US 63 / US 167 at Arkansas state line in Junction City
Location
CountryUnited States
StateLouisiana
ParishesLincoln, Union
Highway system
  • Louisiana State Highway System
LA 62 LA 63

U.S. Highway 63 (US 63) is a part of the United States Numbered Highway System that spans 1,286 miles (2,070 km)[2] from Ruston, Louisiana to a point southwest of Ashland, Wisconsin. Within the state of Louisiana, the highway travels 35.40 miles (56.97 km)[1] from the national southern terminus at the junction of Interstate 20 (I-20), US 167, and Louisiana Highway 146 (LA 146) in Ruston to the Arkansas state line at Junction City.

The route is entirely concurrent with US 167 within Louisiana and northward to El Dorado, Arkansas. From the diamond interchange with I-20 in Ruston, located roughly midway between the cities of Minden and Monroe, US 63 winds through the piney hills of rural Lincoln and Union parishes. The highway passes through several small communities, including Vienna, Dubach, Bernice, and Lillie. The point in Junction City where US 63 and US 167 cross the state line also forms the junction of two Louisiana parishes, one Arkansas county, and three congressional districts.

US 63 is Louisiana's most recent U.S. Highway designation, although it has existed outside the state since 1926. Its southern terminus was previously located in Memphis, Tennessee, carried into the city from Turrell, Arkansas via I-55. In 1999, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) approved a relocation and extension of the route south from West Memphis, Arkansas over existing U.S. and state highways to its current terminus in Ruston, Louisiana. US 63 is currently the only U.S. Highway in Louisiana with the same number as an active state highway, although LA 63 is located at a sufficient distance to prevent confusion to motorists.

  1. ^ a b Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (September 2015). "La DOTD GIS Data". Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  2. ^ "U.S. Route Number Database". American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. December 2009. Retrieved May 2, 2017.