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{{Short description|Highway in Louisiana}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox road
|state=LA
|type=LA
|route=12
|map=LA 12 map.svg
|map_notes=Route of LA 12 highlighted in red
|length_mi=34.639
|length_ref=<ref name="LRS 2016">{{cite web |author=[[Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development]], Highway Inventory Unit |url=http://wwwsp.dotd.la.gov/Inside_LaDOTD/Divisions/Mgmt_Finance/GIS/Pages/GIS_Data.aspx |title=LRS Conversion Tool |date=2016 |publisher=Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development |accessdate=March 15, 2018}}</ref>
|established=[[1955 Louisiana Highway renumbering|1955 renumbering]]
|direction_a=West
|terminus_a={{jct|state=TX|TX|12}} at [[Deweyville, Texas|Deweyville, TX]]
|junction={{jct|state=LA|LA|27}} in [[DeQuincy, Louisiana|DeQuincy, LA]]
|direction_b=East
|terminus_b={{jct|state=LA|US|171|US|190}} in [[Ragley, Louisiana|Ragley, LA]]
|parishes=[[Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana|Calcasieu]], [[Beauregard Parish, Louisiana|Beauregard]]
|previous_type=I
|previous_route=12
|next_type=LA
|next_route=13
}}
'''Louisiana Highway 12''' ('''LA
LA 12 traverses an area of the state known as [[Acadiana]] and is also signed as the [[Acadiana Trail]]. The route connects the city of [[DeQuincy, Louisiana|DeQuincy]] with US 171 and US 190, two of the region's main highways. It is also the only highway crossing the Texas–Louisiana border between US 190 to the north and the concurrent [[Interstate 10 in Louisiana|Interstate 10]] (I-10) and [[U.S. Route 90 in Louisiana|US 90]] to the south. LA 12 enters both [[Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana|Calcasieu Parish]] and [[Beauregard Parish, Louisiana|Beauregard Parish]] twice along its route. This is due to a northern protrusion of the former from an otherwise linear border that encompasses the DeQuincy area.
LA 12 was created in the [[1955 Louisiana Highway renumbering]] from the westernmost portion of former [[Louisiana State Route 7|State Route 7]], which was otherwise concurrent with US 190 through most of the state.
==Route description==
From the west, LA 12 begins at the [[Texas]] state line, midway across a [[swing bridge]] over the [[Sabine River (Texas–Louisiana)|Sabine River]]. It continues the route of [[Texas State Highway 12]] (SH 12) from the [[Newton County, Texas|Newton County]] community of [[Deweyville, Texas|Deweyville]] into [[Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana]]. LA 12 heads east as an undivided two-lane highway through a largely uninhabited and heavily wooded area in the northwestern portion of the parish. After about {{convert|4|mi|km}}, scattered residences appear as the highway approaches the small community of [[Starks, Louisiana|Starks]]. Passing through the center of town, LA 12 intersects [[Louisiana Highway 109|LA 109]], which connects with [[Vinton, Louisiana|Vinton]] to the south and [[Merryville, Louisiana|Merryville]] to the north. East of Starks, LA 12 curves northeast and runs parallel to the [[Kansas City Southern Railway]] (KCS) tracks for the next {{convert|13|mi|km}}.<ref name="GMaps">{{Google maps |url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/30.3037375,-93.7438229/30.5099373,-93.2324965/@30.4085049,-93.5038307,35272m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!4m1!3e0?hl=en |title=Overview Map of LA 12 |accessdate=March 15, 2018}}</ref><ref name="P10W 2012">{{cite LADOTD map |date=2012P |parish=Calcasieu |sheet=West |accessdate=July 2, 2015}}</ref><ref name="D07 2012">{{cite LADOTD map |date=2012D |district=07 |accessdate=July 2, 2015}}</ref>
During this time, the highway briefly passes through a corner of [[Beauregard Parish, Louisiana|Beauregard Parish]] before crossing back into Calcasieu Parish. Shortly afterward, LA 12 passes the [[DeQuincy Industrial Airpark]], simultaneously entering the small city of [[DeQuincy, Louisiana|DeQuincy]]. It then curves slightly more to the northeast and away from the railroad line. After passing the local middle and high schools, the route curves due east into town on West 4th Street. LA 12 intersects [[Louisiana Highway 389|LA 389]] (Cole Street) at the latter's southern terminus then makes a jog across the railroad tracks onto East 4th Street, entering the city's historic district. Signs direct visitors to the [[DeQuincy Railroad Museum]], located one block to the north at the convergence of two branches of the KCS Railway. Shortly after a second grade crossing, LA 12 intersects [[Louisiana Highway 27|LA 27]], which heads northward along Page Street toward [[DeRidder, Louisiana|DeRidder]]. Widening to accommodate a center turning lane, the two highways run east concurrently for two blocks until LA 27 turns south onto South Grand Avenue, heading toward [[Sulphur, Louisiana|Sulphur]].<ref name="GMaps"/><ref name="P10W 2012"/><ref name="D07 2012"/>
Crossing out of the city limits, LA 12 narrows again to two lanes. It then curves to the northeast to follow the [[Union Pacific Railroad]] (UP) tracks for {{convert|11.5|mi|km}} to an area known as [[Ragley, Louisiana|Ragley]]. Along the way, LA 12 crosses into Beauregard Parish once again. The eastern terminus is located at an interchange with [[U.S. Route 171|US 171]] and [[U.S. Route 190 in Louisiana|US 190]], specifically at the foot of ramps leading to and from southbound US 171, heading toward [[Lake Charles, Louisiana|Lake Charles]]. LA 12 briefly widens to a divided four-lane highway to pass through the interchange. Eastbound US 190 continues straight ahead toward [[Kinder, Louisiana|Kinder]], first connecting to ramps leading to northbound US 171 and westbound US 190, which travel concurrently to [[DeRidder, Louisiana|DeRidder]].<ref name="GMaps"/><ref name="D07 2012"/><ref name="P06W 2012">{{cite LADOTD map |date=2012P |parish=Beauregard |sheet=West |accessdate=July 2, 2015}}</ref><ref name="P06E 2012">{{cite LADOTD map |date=2012P |parish=Beauregard |sheet=East |accessdate=July 2, 2015}}</ref>
===Route classification and data===
LA 12 is classified by the [[Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development]] (La DOTD) as a rural minor arterial.<ref name="GIS 2013">{{cite web |url=http://gis.dotd.la.gov/DOTD_EIC/DOTDMapping/ |title=La DOTD GIS |year=2013 |publisher=Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development |accessdate=September 8, 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016093226/http://gis.dotd.la.gov/DOTD_EIC/DOTDMapping/ |archivedate=October 16, 2013 }}</ref> Daily traffic volume in 2013 averaged between 2,500 and 4,300 vehicles for most of the route. The highest figure reported was 7,500 vehicles through DeQuincy, and the lowest figure was 2,400 between Starks and DeQuincy.<ref name="GIS 2013"/><ref name="GMaps"/>
The posted speed limit is generally {{convert|55|mph|km/h|abbr=on|round=5}} in rural areas, reduced to {{convert|35|mph|km/h|abbr=on|round=5}} through DeQuincy.<ref name="GMaps"/>
==History==
===Pre-1955 route numbering===
In the [[List of original highways in Louisiana|original Louisiana Highway system]] in use between 1921 and 1955, the modern LA 12 made up the westernmost part of [[Louisiana State Route 7|State Route 7]].<ref name="P10W 1955">{{cite LADOTD map |date=1955P |parish=Calcasieu |sheet=West |link=y}}</ref><ref name="P06S 1955">{{cite LADOTD map |date=1955P |parish=Beauregard |sheet=South}}</ref> Route 7 was designated in 1921 by an act of the state legislature as one of the original 98 state highway routes.<ref name="S-T 11-29-1921">{{cite news |title=Act No. 95, House Bill No. 206 |newspaper=State-Times |___location=Baton Rouge |date=November 29, 1921 |page=9}}</ref> This cross-state route continued eastward from Ragley along the modern corridor of US 190 through [[Opelousas, Louisiana|Opelousas]], [[Baton Rouge, Louisiana|Baton Rouge]], and [[Hammond, Louisiana|Hammond]] to [[Covington, Louisiana|Covington]]. It then continued along the modern route of [[Louisiana Highway 21|LA 21]] through [[Bogalusa, Louisiana|Bogalusa]] to the [[Mississippi]] state line.<ref name="Clason 1927">{{cite map |publisher=Clason Map Company |title=Mileage Map of the Best Roads of Louisiana |year=1927 |author=[[Clason Map Company]]}}</ref> The entire portion of Route 7 west of Baton Rouge followed an established [[auto trail]] known as the [[Evangeline Highway]], connecting Baton Rouge with [[Beaumont, Texas]].
The routing of what is now LA 12 remained unchanged prior to the [[1955 Louisiana Highway renumbering]] other than a short realignment through Starks.<ref name="P10W 2012"/><ref name="P10W 1937">{{cite LADOTD map |date=1937S |parish=Calcasieu |sheet=West |link=y}}</ref> The original route here retains the local name Evangeline Highway.<ref name="GMaps"/> Perhaps the most significant improvement to the pre-1955 route occurred in 1938 upon completion of the [[Deweyville Swing Bridge]] over the Sabine River, replacing an existing ferry service at the Texas–Louisiana state line.<ref name="SFA">{{cite web |url=http://www.sfasu.edu/heritagecenter/9311.asp |title=The Historic Deweyville Swing Bridge |last=Miller |first=Jonnie |date=October 2014 |website=SFA Center for Regional Heritage Research |publisher=[[Stephen F. Austin State University]] |access-date=July 2, 2015}}</ref>
===Post-1955 route history===
LA 12 was created in the 1955 renumbering, following the western portion of former State Route 7 not covered by US 190.<ref name="S-T 6-18-1955">{{cite news |title=Act No. 40, House Bill No. 311 |newspaper=State-Times |___location=Baton Rouge |date=June 18, 1955 |page=3B}}</ref>
{{Blockquote
|La 12—From the Texas state line at or near Deweyville, Texas through or near Starks and DeQuincy to a junction with La-US 171 at or near Ragley.
|1955 legislative route description<ref name="S-T 6-18-1955"/>
}}
The route of LA 12 has remained the same since 1955.<ref name="P10W 2012"/><ref name="P06E 2012"/><ref name="P10W 1958">{{cite LADOTD map |date=1958P |parish=Calcasieu |sheet=West}}</ref><ref name="P06S 1958">{{cite LADOTD map |date=1958P |parish=Beauregard |sheet=South}}</ref> However, the eastern terminus at US 171 and US 190 has seen a major upgrade. The twin-span overpass at Ragley was replaced in 2001 (southbound) and 2005 (northbound), and the original [[folded diamond interchange]] was replaced with that of a modern design.<ref name="GMaps"/>
==Major intersections==
{{LAinttop|length_ref=<ref name="LRS 2016"/>}}
{{Jctint
|river=[[Sabine River (Texas–Louisiana)|Sabine River]]
|lspan=2
|mile=0.000
|mile2=0.059
|mspan=2
|road={{jct|state=TX|TX|12|dir1=west|city1=Beaumont}}
|notes=Western terminus; continuation in [[Texas]]
}}
{{LAint
|mile=none
|bridge=[[Deweyville Swing Bridge]]
}}
{{LAint
|parish=Calcasieu
|___location=Starks
|mile=5.035
|road={{jct|state=LA|LA|109|city1=Vinton|city2=Merryville}}
|notes=
}}
{{jctco
|state=LA
|parish=Beauregard
}}
{{LAint
|parish=Calcasieu
|pspan=3
|___location=DeQuincy
|lspan=3
|mile=21.461
|road={{jct|state=LA|LA|389|dir1=north|name1=Cole Street|city1=Fields}}
|notes=Southern terminus of LA 389
}}
{{LAint
|type=concur
|mile=21.965
|road={{jct|state=LA|LA|27|dir1=north|name1=Page Street|city1=DeRidder}}
|notes=Western end of LA 27 concurrency
}}
{{LAint
|type=concur
|mile=22.154
|road={{jct|state=LA|LA|27|dir1=south|name1=South Grand Avenue|city1=Sulphur}}
|notes=Eastern end of LA 27 concurrency
}}
{{LAint
|parish=Beauregard
|___location=Ragley
|mile=34.456
|mile2=34.639
|road={{jct|state=LA|US|171|US|190|dir2=west|city1=Lake Charles|city2=DeRidder}}<br />{{jct|state=LA|US|190|dir1=east|city1=Kinder}}
|notes=Eastern terminus; interchange
}}
{{jctbtm|keys=concur}}
==See also==
*{{Portal-inline|United States}}
*{{Portal-inline|U.S. Roads}}
==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
==External links==
{{Attached KML|display=inline,title}}
*[http://wwwsp.dotd.la.gov/Business/Pages/GIS_Maps.aspx Maps / GIS Data Homepage], Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development
[[Category:State highways in Louisiana|0012]]
[[Category:Transportation in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana]]
[[Category:Transportation in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana]]
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