I-59 northbound in Louisiana is a mere 11 miles long and only traverses through St. Tammany Parish.

The images below are only in the northbound direction.

Exit 267 →

The movement from I-10/I-12 onto I-59 gives us our first reassurance marker.

First I-59 NB reassurance marker (Slidell, LA)

Taken January 1, 2023

The drive along I-59 through the uppermost part of Slidell is a quiet one. At mile 2, we see our first exit BGS: approaching US 11 and LA 1090 (Military Road).

I-59 NB 1 mile from US 11/LA 1090 SB (Pearl River, LA)

Taken January 1, 2023

US 11 will join I-59 along this stretch of road from Exit 3 until the LA/MS border; both routes lead back to Slidell, albeit different sections.

I-59 NB ½ mile from US 11/LA 1090 SB (Pearl River, LA)

I-59 NB @ US 11/LA 1090 SB (Pearl River, LA)

Taken January 1, 2023

South ← → South
↓
North continues onto

Passing Exit 3, we see the first dual reassurance marker. US 11, in theory, could continue onward its old alignment (LA 3081) to the next exit, but it helps keep traffic out of downtown Pearl River.

I-59/US 11 NB reassurance marker past Exit 3 (Pearl River, LA)

Taken January 1, 2023

These next signs have a bit of age to them: they're from when LA 3081 used to be LA 47 Spur, which is what's hiding over those pesky covers - LA 47 Spur was given back to the city of Pearl River around 2010.

I-59/US 11 NB 1 mile from LA 3081 (Pearl River, LA)

I-59/US 11 NB ½ mile from LA 3081 (Pearl River, LA)

Taken January 1, 2023

South ← → North

As we cross over the West Pearl River, we approach Honey Island Swamp, a decent tourist attraction where people can go on boat rides through the swamps of the Pearl River delta.

I-59/US 11 NB ½ mile from Honey Island Swamp [Exit 5B] (Pearl River, LA)

Taken January 1, 2023

This exit upcoming hides yet another secret: in the picture below, the road in the distance is the old alignment of US 11! This area was cut off after the old bridge crossing the West Pearl River was demolished in the late 1960's. The old approach to this roadway via Pearl River can be seen on LA 3081 Spur back in the town.

I-59/US 11 NB @ Honey Island Swamp [Exit 5B] (Pearl River, LA)

Taken January 1, 2023

We get another concurrency marker past Exit 5B, as well as a sign telling us we've entered the Pearl River Wildlife Management Area.

I-59/US 11 NB reassurance marker past Exit 5B (Pearl River, LA)

I-59/US 11 NB @ Pearl River WMA (Pearl River, LA)

Taken January 1, 2023

We're now 5 miles from the Louisiana/Mississippi state line, as well as 69 miles from the next major city on I-59: Hattiesburg.

I-59/US 11 NB guide sign past Exit 5B (Pearl River, LA)

Taken January 1, 2023

The Pearl River Turnaround is the next exit: I'm genuinely unsure of the reason why this exit was built in the first place, as this area was pretty much forested according to aerial imagery. There's a quarry built directly off this exit, though I'm not sure if the quarry was made alongside I-59 or if it was built after. Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge was created around this exit by then-President Jimmy Carter in 1970, but that was done after this exit was built.

I-59/US 11 NB ½ mile from the Pearl River Turnaround [Exit 11] (Pearl River, LA)

I-59/US 11 NB @ Pearl River Turnaround [Exit 11] (Pearl River, LA)

Taken January 1, 2023

Here is a newspaper clipping from when the Pearl River Turnaround was first opened.

This is the last sign in Louisiana along I-59. This BGS seems to have been installed by LADOTD, but it looks akin to a Mississippi BGS (look how close those letters are on this sign compared to the other signs above!)

I-59/US 11 NB 1 mile from US 11/MS 607 [MS Exit 1] (Pearl River, LA)

Taken January 1, 2023

From here, we cross over the (East) Pearl River into Pearl River County, Mississippi.

Continue on northbound and into Mississippi,
return to in Louisiana, or return to Louisiana road signs

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Published March 1, 2024
Updated March 13, 2024