Louisiana Highway 99

From the south, LA 99 begins at an intersection with LA 14 approximately west of the town of Lake Arthur. Signs direct motorists to the nearby Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge located to the south. LA 99 proceeds due north as an undivided two-lane highway in a rural area of southern Jefferson Davis Parish. After , it intersects LA 380, which passes through the small community of Thornwell. After another , the highway curves east briefly then back to the north amidst a small cluster of farm houses. LA 99 crosses a bridge over Bayou Chene then intersects LA 1126 a distance of later. As the surroundings become more residential, the highway enters the town of Welsh and travels along Simmons Street. US 90 passes through town on Russell Avenue, its primary east–west thoroughfare, connecting with Jennings to the east and Lake Charles to the west. LA 99 turns west to run concurrently with US 90 for a brief distance before turning north again onto Adams Street. Now following the town's primary north–south thoroughfare, LA 99 passes a series of historic brick storefronts and crosses the BNSF/Union Pacific Railroad line at grade. Shortly after passing the local cemetery, the surroundings abruptly become rural again. LA 99 immediately passes through a spread diamond interchange with I-10 at exit 54, crossing over the interstate in the process. I-10 parallels the US 90 corridor, connecting with Lake Charles to the west and Lafayette to the east. The posted speed limit is generally , reduced to either or through Welsh. ==History==

Pre-1955 route numbering In the original Louisiana Highway system in use between 1921 and 1955, the modern LA 99 was part of three separate routes. Southern section The section from the southern terminus west of Lake Arthur to the present intersection with LA 102 southeast of Fenton made up the majority of State Route 105. It was designated in 1926 by an act of the state legislature. North of Welsh, Route 105 turned west to follow the modern route of LA 102 to Fenton, located along US 165. The route description identifies the northern terminus as State Route 24, which was co-signed with US 165 throughout the pre-1955 era. The portion of Route 105 that is now followed by LA 99 has remained virtually the same apart from the route through Welsh. Just before crossing into the south end of town, the pre-1955 route made a brief jog eastward onto a parallel road. After about , it made a second jog back onto the current alignment at Frey Road. The route then continued into Welsh, where it turned west onto Derouen Street then north onto Adams Street, continuing straight across US 90 onto the current alignment. Northern section From the point where former State Route 105 turned west toward Fenton, a section of State Route 735 continued the modern route of LA 99 north then east for to Pine Island. State Route 714 then covered the remainder of the present LA 99 north to Lauderdale. The route description reflects the fact that prior to 1935, when US 190 was extended west of the Mississippi River over former State Route 7, its route was generally called the Evangeline Highway. Route 714 remained virtually the same up to the 1955 renumbering. The route through Welsh was changed less than a year following the 1955 renumbering. The route of LA 99 has otherwise remained the same to the present day. ==Major intersections==