LA 18 runs along the west bank levee of the Mississippi River and connects to the Hale Boggs Memorial Bridge on I-310, a distance of 0.8 miles (1.3 km) upriver.

[2] The route is classified as an urban collector by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (La DOTD) with an average daily traffic volume of 8,500 in 2013.

[7][8] In April 1941, US 90 was moved onto its current alignment between Boutte and the Huey P. Long Bridge, bypassing the winding River Road.

[3][12] La DOTD is currently engaged in a program that aims to transfer about 5,000 miles (8,000 km) of state-owned roadways to local governments over the next several years.

[13] Under this plan of "right-sizing" the state highway system, the entire route of LA 52 is proposed for deletion as it does not meet a significant interurban travel function.