Begin LA 1077 northbound, here at the marshes south of Madisonville. The speed limit is 35 miles per hour here - in my opinion, it's actually overposted. You try doing 35 through here, you're going to lose your suspension.
The first thing of note one encounters on LA 1077 northbound is this wooden one lane bridge. Surprisingly, it's rated for 25, or even 40 tons.
The wooden bridge here is an amazing marvel of engineering. It rises high enough over the water to accomodate recreational boat traffic. As can be seen, this is actually the second generation of bridge to cross this span of water! Despite its wooden construction, it can easily accomodate a heavy load.
Here's a closer look at the underside of the span. This wood was treated with a chemical called Creosote (sp?). Don't look to find wood treated with this chemical anymore, it's been banned as an environmental and health hazard... which it only is while it's hot and liquid. Once it solidifies, it's fairly safe.
After the one lane bridge, LA 1077 starts to resemble a highway, even as the pavement begins to resemble garbage.
LA 1077 northbound crosses another old bridge while still in its infancy.
After a series of sharp turns, LA 1077 prepares to enter Madisonville proper.
Madisonville is a small town that is growing, but not to the extremes of nearby Mandeville or Covington. Most of Madisonville's growth is outside of the town limits.
LA 1077 (Main Street) prepares to intersect LA 22 ahead.
Not reflected on signage, LA 21 begins ahead. LA 1077 is not signed through this intersection at all along northbound! (To stay on LA 1077, continue straight ahead.)
Begin LA 21 northbound, along Main Street in Madisonville. This stretch of pavement also carries LA 1077, although it is not signed.
LA 21/1077 North now run along St. John Street, and prepare to turn onto yet another city street. To the left, the old Madisonville branch of the St. Tammany Parish Library System, closed since Hurricane Katrina due to damage. A new library is being built. Due to the historic value of the building, it is not likely it will be torn down.
LA 21/1077 cross Bayou De Zaire and exit Madisonville on this bridge. The two highways will go their seperate ways about a quarter of a mile ahead.
Left: LA 1077 North, to Goodbee. Around the curve: LA 21 North, to Covington, Bogalusa, and the Mississippi state line.
We pick up LA 1077 North again after the intersection with LA 1078.
Get ready to turn if you want to stay on LA 1077.
Straight: Willie Road, connecting to LA 40. Right: LA 1077 North.
At this point, LA 1077 North is actually oriented to the east.
Photo taken March 19, 2009.
LA 1077 prepares to intersect LA 25 here, just south of Folsom.
END! LA 1077 North. Left: LA 25 North, to Folsom. Right: LA 25 South, to Covington.
Begin LA 1077 South here south of Folsom. This first stretch of LA 1077 is very old, but also lightly traveled. It makes for a wonderful drive at the posted 55mph limit... anything beyond that is actually kind of scary.
LA 1077 starts by traversing the rolling hills of northern St. Tammany Parish.
LA 1077 prepares to intersect... itself.
To remain on LA 1077, turn left.
Continuing on LA 1077 South, and still on the same old pavement.
Rural St. Tammany is the norm along here. It's so much nicer than the sprawl in the southern half of the parish...
Here, LA 1077 intersects LA 1078. To stay on LA 1077, turn right.
I'll take “Useless Concurrencies” for $200, Alex. LA 1077 South continues here, concurrent with LA 1078 West.
Since the last shot contained a bridge, this shot also contains a bridge. We're still on LA 1077 South/LA 1078 West as we cross the Tchefuncte River.
END! LA 1078 West. LA 1077 is mistakenly signed as going in both directions, it actually only goes left. Needless to say, to stay on LA 1077 South, turn left here.
The sun was horrible here, as we continue on LA 1077 South. The pavement is newer here.
Don't mind me, I tried something different to blunt the impact of the sun on this shot of the intersection of LA 1077 and US 190. Welcome to Goodbee.
Continuing south on LA 1077 past the intersection with US 190.
The next highway intersection LA 1077 South encounters is LA 1085 (Bootlegger Road).
Despite the signage, LA 1085 actually crosses LA 1077 instead of ending at it. To the east, LA 1085 will terminate at LA 21.
After intersecting LA 1085, LA 1077 continues south toward Madisonville. The next highway it encounters is I-12.
The sun was in the wrong place as LA 1077 South encounters Interstate 12. Taking a right ahead takes you toward Hammond and Baton Rouge.
LA 1077 crosses I-12 and encounters the ramps from/to eastbound. Heading eastbound from here will take you to Slidell and points north and east from there.
After interchanging with I-12, travelers on LA 1077 South are treated by this directional plate. The reassurance shield is missing.
Here at the intersection with Brewster Road, LA 1077 is signed as a preferred truck route... for itself! This is actually common in Louisiana.
LA 1077 prepares to junction LA 21 just north of Madisonville.
To stay on LA 1077 South or to use LA 21 South, continue straight. A left takes you to LA 21 northbound.
Now, we continue on LA 21/LA 1077 South toward Madisonville. Southbound, the concurrency is fully signed - this is the last reassurance shield for LA 21, and LA 1077 doesn't see another one for a while.
LA 21 will END! at the stop sign ahead. A left on LA 22 East takes you to Mandeville and to US 190. A right on LA 22 West takes you to Ponchatoula and points west.
END! LA 21 South. LA 1077 South continues on.
Reassurance shield for LA 1077 South after the intersection with LA 22. The next stop is the End of the Earth... or at least the end of the Northshore.
After a short trek through the southern reaches of town, LA 1077 enters the wetlands bordering Lake Ponchartrain.
It's a trap! Although the speed limit increases here to 35 miles per hour, I suggest you actually slow down here.
After a series of very hard turns, LA 1077 crosses over this old bridge. The roadway here is best described as “decrepit”, and even then I think I'm understating things.
LA 1077 crosses an old one-lane bridge as it nears the end.
One would assume LA 1077 ended at that one lane bridge, especially considering the lack of lane markers along this badly degraded stretch of asphalt. One would then be wrong. We are still on LA 1077 South according to the Louisiana Route Log.
END! LA 1077 South here at Lake Ponchartrain. A boat launch is provided here by the Town of Madisonville.
Along the gravel road at the end of LA 1077 South, this is one of the sights one can see - an old hulk of a boat and the remains of a pier.
Connected to the pier remnants is this, the burned remains of an old raised house.
Here, the old Madisonville Lighthouse is visible. It is no longer reachable by land. Erosion has seen to that. (Coordinates indicate the position of the lighthouse, not the point from where the picture was taken)
Here's another angle of the old boat. I don't know the story about it yet.
Dreamweaver (my 1992 Buick Regal Custom) at the end of the earth. Or at the end of LA 1077, if you prefer.
The part of the lake here near the boat launch is considered a No Wake Zone. Just kill the engines and drift, you'll be fine.
