Bluebonnet Boulevard

## Bluebonnet Blvd

**Bluebonnet Blvd**, also known in the state highway logs as **LA 1248**, is a major north-south thoroughfare in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Running from southwest to northeast, it begins as a five-lane road with a center left turning lane at LA 30 (Nicholson Drive). The area is mostly rural undeveloped land. The center lane is used mostly for making illegal u-turns as there are no stores and parking lots to turn into. It runs in a straight line, passing a school and a large residential development on its right. The left turn lane is replaced with a median as it enters and winds its way through a subdivision. It banks to the northwest through the subdivision, and then approaches Burbank Dr (LA 42). The immediate area is commercial. Passing Burbank, it continues north, through a commercial enclave with many restaurants, stores and other businesses before crossing a creek. The road temporarily loses its median as it crosses this creek. North of the bridge, it meets Highland Road in a standard intersection. The area near this intersection is sparsely developed with woods, undeveloped lots and large, spaced out upper-class houses.

It curves more slightly to the northwest, passing through a small area of dense forest, presumably a swamp, and then enters a highly developed area of many clinics, banks, salons and a few restaurants. There is also light residential development such as apartments and small subdivisions to the right. It intersects with a segment of Oak Hills Parkway in a standard signalized intersection, before continuing northward, with the development stated above. The road passes through a hilly area, with the rolling hills being visible to motorists. Approaching Perkins Rd (LA 427), the development becomes less dense temporarily. It bows to the northeast before intersecting with Perkins Road in a large, busy intersection with double left turning lanes. It is a highly developed area from here on. This area consists of many shops and restaurants. The large 'Perkins Rowe' shopping mall and residential community is located just to its east. It winds through the area, passing a large apartment block, hotel and megachurch as **Bluebonnet Blvd** approaches Anselmo Lane. It passes under an railroad overpass before intersecting with an unnamed road serving as an entrance to the Mall of Louisiana. Here, it widens to six lanes, which it will remain for less than a mile until it crosses I-10. The intersection with I-10 is a standard diamond interchange, but the ramps east of the road are frontage roads that provide access to the Mall of Louisiana. Here it goes back down to four lanes with trees and turns further to the northwest. It meets with an access road to a medicare/medicaid organization's headquarters. It temporarily loses the median, then banks to the northeast. Upon turning, the landscaped median returns and it passes through a quiet area consisting of mostly clinics and offices.

It meets with Jefferson Hwy (LA 73) in another large intersection, and then turns to the northeast further. Past Jefferson Hwy, the median ends for the last time and is replaced with the center left turn lane again. It is only developed on its left side, consisting of mid income apartments. Only until recently some development began on the eastern side of **Bluebonnet Blvd**, with the development being an upper-echelon apartment complex. It intersects with a collector and access road and approaches Airline Highway, (US 61), and another heavily developed commercial area, where it ends, and Coursey Boulevard begins where it left off.

It may be dangerous to pedestrians due to inadequate street lighting and spotty, inconsistent sidewalks. Traffic can get heavy, especially on the segment between Burbank and Highland, and again between Perkins Rd and Jefferson Highway.