La.3 originates in Bossier City, across the Red River from Shreveport.
It was the smart way into Arkansas when I went. You don't have to deal with Texarkana. I've heard there's a new interstate up that way that might take a load off of US 171?
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Louisiana Highway 3 (LA 3) is a state highway in northern Louisiana and runs in a north/south direction for 35.63 miles, from Interstate 20 to the Louisiana/Arkansas state line. LA 3 lies entirely within Bossier Parish.
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Route description
From the south, LA 3 begins as a four lane, divided highway in Bossier City at an off ramp on Interstate 20 and crosses Louisiana Highway 72 in two places, the first from the LA 3 and the other from Louisiana Highway 3 Spur, a 0.31 mile connector road that connects the two highways. LA 3 heads due north through Bossier Parish. LA 3 also intersects U.S. Highway 79 and Interstate 220 before it exits the city limits. From there, the highway spans almost due north to the Arkansas line, where LA 3 becomes Highway 29.