Louisiana Highway 3260
Encyclopedia
Louisiana Highway 3260 (LA 3260) is one of the shortest state highways in Louisiana (or, for that matter, in any state). It is basically a long ramp or a connector between US 190 and US 51 in Tangipahoa Parish for motorists who do not want to continue to the intersection of those two U.S. highways, that intersection being several hundred feet south of LA 3260's intersection with US 51. With exception of additional turn lanes at its intersection with US 51, LA 3260 is a two-lane highway for the entirety of its 2100 feet (640.1 m). LA 3260 is entirely within the boundaries of Hammond
and provides an alternative to LA 3234 as egress for Southeastern Louisiana University
's campus. Locally LA 3260 is widely known as part of West Church Street or even as West Church Street Extension.
which puts US 190's intersection with US 51 hundreds of feet south of where LA 3260 intersects US 51. Traffic eastbound on US 190 (much of this traffic just having exited I-55) moves into US 190's eastbound left lane and crosses the median through an opening between two traffic island
s. LA 3260 then takes the trajectory that US 190 would have if US 190 were straight. At the intersection with US 51, motorists eastbound on LA 3260 (which is also West Church Street) have the option of turning north or south on US 51 or of continuing straight ahead eastbound on West Church Street. In the opposite direction, westbound traffic on West Church Street and traffic which turns from US 51 to go west on LA 3260 must stop at US 190; a 1980s attempt to let a yield sign suffice resulted in accidents, and the state did not want to appropriate money for an acceleration lane.
Highway. Louisiana Highway 7, from Baton Rouge, thus entered Hammond from the west on Church Street before jogging south to circumvent the Hammond train Depot
and continue to Covington
. For a time after US 190 was pieced together from state highways, LA 3260 had the number "LA 190" but possibly never or only briefly bore such signs.
Hammond, Louisiana
Hammond is the largest city in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 20,049 at the 2009 census. It is home to Southeastern Louisiana University...
and provides an alternative to LA 3234 as egress for Southeastern Louisiana University
Southeastern Louisiana University
Southeastern Louisiana University is a state-funded public university in Hammond, Louisiana, United States. It was founded in 1925 by Linus A. Sims, the principal of Hammond High School, as Hammond Junior College, located in a wing of the high school building. Sims succeeded in getting the campus...
's campus. Locally LA 3260 is widely known as part of West Church Street or even as West Church Street Extension.
Route description
From the west, LA 3260 begins at US 190 between I-55 and US 190's movement into an "S" curveReverse curve
In civil engineering, a reverse curve is a section of the horizontal alignment of a highway or railroad route in which a curve to the left or right is followed immediately by a curve in the opposite direction....
which puts US 190's intersection with US 51 hundreds of feet south of where LA 3260 intersects US 51. Traffic eastbound on US 190 (much of this traffic just having exited I-55) moves into US 190's eastbound left lane and crosses the median through an opening between two traffic island
Traffic island
A traffic island is a solid or painted object in a road that channelises traffic. It can also be a narrow strip of island between roads that intersect at an acute angle. If the island uses road markings only, without raised kerbs or other physical obstructions, it is called a painted island...
s. LA 3260 then takes the trajectory that US 190 would have if US 190 were straight. At the intersection with US 51, motorists eastbound on LA 3260 (which is also West Church Street) have the option of turning north or south on US 51 or of continuing straight ahead eastbound on West Church Street. In the opposite direction, westbound traffic on West Church Street and traffic which turns from US 51 to go west on LA 3260 must stop at US 190; a 1980s attempt to let a yield sign suffice resulted in accidents, and the state did not want to appropriate money for an acceleration lane.
History
Although LA 3260 appears inauspicious nowadays, it has had an ambitious past. It was the original track of US 190, from back when US 190 was Louisiana Highway 7 prior to the 1955 renumbering of state highways in Louisiana. In turn, that Louisiana Highway 7 was part of the early 20th-century concept to link state highways across the southern tier of the United States to form a coast-to-coast Jefferson DavisJefferson Davis
Jefferson Finis Davis , also known as Jeff Davis, was an American statesman and leader of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, serving as President for its entire history. He was born in Kentucky to Samuel and Jane Davis...
Highway. Louisiana Highway 7, from Baton Rouge, thus entered Hammond from the west on Church Street before jogging south to circumvent the Hammond train Depot
Hammond (Amtrak station)
The Hammond Amtrak station is a train station in Hammond, Louisiana, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system. It is a station on Amtrak's The City of New Orleans route which runs from Chicago, Illinois to New Orleans, Louisiana. Hammond station was originally built...
and continue to Covington
Covington, Louisiana
Covington is a city in and the parish seat of St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 8,483 at the 2000 census. It is located at a fork of the Bogue Falaya and the Tchefuncte River....
. For a time after US 190 was pieced together from state highways, LA 3260 had the number "LA 190" but possibly never or only briefly bore such signs.