Editing Interstate 49 (section)

===Louisiana===
{{Main|Interstate 49 in Louisiana}}
The southern terminus of I-49 is located at a [[cloverleaf interchange]] with [[Interstate 10 in Louisiana|I-10]] and [[U.S. Route 167 in Louisiana|US&nbsp;167]] in the southern Louisiana city of [[Lafayette, Louisiana|Lafayette]]. Southbound motorists continue through the interchange onto the Evangeline Thruway, which transitions from a [[limited-access]] portion of [[Louisiana Highway 182|LA 182]] to a major divided thoroughfare that picks up the [[U.S. Route 90 in Louisiana|US&nbsp;90]] corridor heading through the heart of Lafayette. I-49 begins its journey concurrent with US&nbsp;167 as it travels northward through [[Carencro, Louisiana|Carencro]], [[Sunset, Louisiana|Sunset]], [[Grand Coteau, Louisiana|Grand Coteau]], and [[Opelousas, Louisiana|Opelousas]]. US&nbsp;167 departs from the Interstate's alignment at exit&nbsp;23 between Opelousas and [[Washington, Louisiana|Washington]], and I-49 begins to take a northwesterly path through the heavily wooded rural terrain. Various state highways provide access to the small towns and cities located along the parallel [[U.S. Route 71 in Louisiana|US&nbsp;71]] and US&nbsp;167 corridors, such as [[Lebeau, Louisiana|Lebeau]], [[Ville Platte, Louisiana|Ville Platte]], [[Bunkie, Louisiana|Bunkie]], and [[Cheneyville, Louisiana|Cheneyville]]. After crossing US&nbsp;167, I-49 travels between US&nbsp;71 and [[U.S. Route 165 in Louisiana|US&nbsp;165]] into the [[Alexandria, Louisiana metropolitan area|Alexandria metropolitan area]] in central Louisiana.

I-49 travels through downtown [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]] doubling as [[U.S. Route 71 Bypass (Alexandria, Louisiana)|U.S. Highway&nbsp;71 Bypass]] (US&nbsp;71 Byp.) and is also concurrent with portions of US&nbsp;167 and [[Louisiana Highway 28|Louisiana Highway&nbsp;28]] (LA&nbsp;28). Major interchanges with US&nbsp;167 and US&nbsp;71 lead to bridges that cross the [[Red River of the South|Red River]] into the neighboring city of [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]]. Continuing northwest from Alexandria, I-49 parallels the Red River and [[Louisiana Highway 1|LA&nbsp;1]] through [[Boyce, Louisiana|Boyce]] and passes just west of the historic city of [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]], which is reached via [[LA 6]] at exit&nbsp;138. Between Natchitoches and [[Shreveport, Louisiana|Shreveport]], I-49 travels between LA&nbsp;1 and [[US 171]] and has junctions with [[U.S. Route 371 in Louisiana|US&nbsp;371]] and [[U.S. Route 84 in Louisiana|US&nbsp;84]], connecting with [[Coushatta, Louisiana|Coushatta]] and [[Mansfield, Louisiana|Mansfield]], respectively.

In Shreveport, the Interstate heads directly into the downtown area and terminates at [[Interstate 20 in Louisiana|I-20]], a route that facilitates eastbound traffic. However, through traffic bound for I-20 west and the northern segment of I-49 is directed to transfer onto [[LA 3132]] at an interchange located about {{convert|5.5|mi|km}} south of this terminus. LA&nbsp;3132 is a western freeway bypass of Shreveport known as the Inner Loop Expressway that becomes [[Interstate 220 in Louisiana|I-220]] upon intersecting I-20. On the northside of town, motorists may exit I-220 and follow the next segment of I-49, which parallels US&nbsp;71 into [[Arkansas]].

The heaviest traffic on I-49 occurs within the cities of Shreveport and Opelousas. The stretch of freeway in Shreveport sees an average of 70,000&nbsp;vehicles per day, while the stretch of freeway between Lafayette and Carencro sees an average of 55,000&nbsp;vehicles per day, and the stretch of freeway through Opelousas sees an average of 45,000&nbsp;vehicles per day between the Judson Walsh Drive and Creswell Lane exits.

During the [[sugarcane]] season, many trucks and tractors pulling heavy cane wagons cause traffic congestion and accidents.<ref name="highway 90 sugarmill related traffic congestion">{{cite web |url = http://www.iberianet.com/news/officials-ask-patience-safe-driving-during-sugar-harvest-season/article_1e6de5d6-cdb0-52eb-85b7-f9b1c8c20c54.html |last = LeJeune |first = Henri |title = Officials ask patience, safe driving during sugar harvest season |work = The Daily Iberian |date = September 20, 2004 |access-date = January 25, 2024}}</ref>