It spans 7.2 miles (11.6 km) in a north-south direction[1] along Leo Kerner/Lafitte Parkway between Jean Lafitte and Estelle (south of Marrero) and acts as a four-lane bypass to the older Barataria Boulevard (LA 45).

Reaching the north side of the bayou at Crown Point, the route widens to four lanes divided, and LA 45 splits to the west.

the route was known as Lafitte-Larose Highway as it was originally projected to extend southwest from its present terminus to Larose roughly along the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.

As early as 1934, planners considered the idea of constructing a road between Lafitte and Larose that would shorten the route to Grand Isle by 26 miles.

According to the statement, the project's main purpose was to, "relocate and eliminate the hazardous condition that exists on LA 45 and also serve as a hurricane evacuation route."

Once constructed, it would significantly reduce the travel time from Grand Isle to New Orleans, eliminating 30 miles from the next direct route by way of U.S. 90 through Raceland.

A lawsuit that was settled out of court, brought forth by the National Wildlife Federation, Louisiana Wildlife Federation, the Orleans Audubon Society and the Ecology Center of Louisiana, allowed for construction to proceed on the portion from Marrero to Crown Point, but required the remainder to be subject to a new environmental study along with public hearings.

[9][10] Because the Lafitte-Larose project had been delayed and then required new environmental reviews, it became increasingly difficult to gain approval for the portion that involved the majority of wetlands, marshes and swamps.