As it enters Jefferson Parish and the city of Kenner, it becomes known as 3rd Street and then Reverend Richard Wilson Drive.

After passing through Harahan, LA 48 shortly merges with US 90 at the east bank base of the Huey P. Long Bridge and LA 3152 (South Clearview Parkway) in Elmwood, becoming a six-lane divided highway through the concurrency.

Almost all of LA 48 follows the historic Jefferson Highway auto trail designated in 1916 and was once the main traffic route from New Orleans to Baton Rouge and points north in the state.

US 61 was removed from the route of today's LA 48 in 1933, 1935, and 1940 as various sections of the Airline Highway were completed between the Bonnet Carré Spillway and New Orleans.

LA 48 originally turned northward from its present eastern terminus and followed Central Avenue to US 61 (Airline Highway).