Louisiana Highway 8

LA 8 highlighted in red

**Louisiana Highway 8 (LA 8)** is a state highway located in north central Louisiana. It runs 156 miles (251 km) in an east-west direction from the Texas state line west of Leesville, Vernon Parish to a junction with US 425 and LA 15 in Sicily Island, Catahoula Parish.

## Route description

### Vernon Parish

From the west, LA 8 begins at the Texas state line, continuing the route of Texas State Highway 63 (SH 63), crossing the Sabine River into central Vernon Parish. In Burr Ferry, LA 8 intersects and has a brief concurrency with LA 111. LA 8 curves to the northeast, as an undivided two-lane highway. LA 8 then intersects LA 464 at a point known as Caney. From here, LA 8 curves to the north, then to the east, before entering Leesville, the seat of Vernon Parish. Shortly after, LA 8 turns north, beginning a brief concurrency with US 171 through the northern side of Leesville. US 171/LA 8 continues north as a divided four-lane highway and as a one-way pair. The southbound lanes assume 6th Street, while the northbound lanes run along 5th Street. LA 1213 begins on eastbound LA 8 / northbound US 171. Shortly after crossing out of Leesville, US 171 continues north towards Shreveport, while LA 8 turns east at a roundabout. This intersection also marks the western terminus of LA 28. LA 8/LA 28 intersect with two highways: the northern terminus of LA 1213 and the southern terminus of LA 117. The two highways also intersect LA 184 and LA 468. LA 28 then leaves the concurrency heading east, while LA 8 continues northeast, as an undivided two-lane highway, intersecting LA 469. In Slagle, LA 8 intersects LA 121. The highway enters the village of Simpson, running concurrent with LA 465 for about a mile (1.6 km) through the village. Shortly after this intersection, LA 8 crosses the parish line into Rapides Parish.

### Rapides Parish

In Flatwoods, LA 8 intersects LA 119. From here, LA 8 curves east, and after a few miles has an interchange with Interstate 49 (exit 103). Northeast of this interchange is a short connector connecting I-49 and LA 8 with LA 1 at a point known as Zimmerman (this connector is unsigned LA 8 Spur). LA 8 runs concurrent with I-49 from this point heading southeast, before leaving the interstate at an intersection with LA 1200 at exit 99. LA 8 continues north, crossing a bridge on an overpass over LA 1. Immediately after this intersection, LA 8 crosses the Red River into Grant Parish.

### Grant Parish

About 8 miles (12 km) inside the parish line, LA 8 intersects LA 492. LA 8 then curves to the northwest before entering Colfax, the seat of Grant Parish. LA 8 then curves northeast, serving the southern terminus of LA 158. The highway also intersects LA 3169 before intersecting US 71. LA 8 has a brief concurrency with US 71 heading southeast before turning to the northeast. LA 8 intersects LA 123 and immediately enters the Kisatchie National Forest. LA 8 curves to the southeast and then to the east, before intersecting US 167 at a point known as Bentley. In Pollock, LA 8 intersects and has a brief concurrency with US 165. LA 8 then intersects LA 366, curving north and then to the northeast, before crossing the parish line into La Salle Parish.

### La Salle Parish

In western La Salle Parish, LA 8 has junctions with LA 774, LA 772, and LA 773. In Midway, LA 8 serves the southern terminus of LA 3104. The highway then enters Jena, the seat of La Salle Parish. It briefly runs concurrent with LA 127 before intersecting US 84, LA 127, and LA 772. LA 8 runs concurrent with US 84/LA 772 from this point, heading east, before intersecting LA 459. LA 772 leaves the concurrency on the east side of Jena, heading east, while LA 8 curves to the south and back to the east, before entering Whitehall. US 84 leaves the concurrency at this point, heading southeast, with LA 8 continuing northeast. This intersection also serves as the eastern terminus of LA 460. Shortly after this intersection, LA 8 crosses the parish line into Catahoula Parish.

### Catahoula Parish

LA 8 runs concurrent with LA 126, and also intersects LA 124 in Harrisonburg. LA 8 intersects LA 922, and after that, it intersects with other minor state highways, including: LA 913, LA 914, LA 916, and LA 1017. Upon entering Sicily Island, LA 8 reaches its eastern terminus at the concurrent highways US 425/LA 15.

## History

In the original Louisiana Highway system in use between 1921 and 1955, LA 8 was part of several shorter routes, including: State Route 21 from the Texas state line to Slagle; Route 107 to Boyce; Route 144 to Colfax; Route 19 to Harrisonburg; and Route 18 to Sicily Island. All were designated by various acts of the state legislature between 1921 and 1926. The routes were joined together under the single designation of LA 8 when the Louisiana Department of Highways renumbered the state highway system in 1955, creating one of several east–west cross-state routes.

## Special routes

### Counties

Rapides

**Louisiana Highway 8 Spur** (**LA 8 Spur**) is a 0.18-mile (0.29 km) highway in Flatwoods, Louisiana. It runs from west to east. LA 8 Spur follows the original routing from I-49 to LA 1, connecting the two highways. It is unsigned for its entire route. It was created in 2002, to give numbering to the short section between LA 1 and I-49.