 The southernmost portion of the route followed the existing Paris Road, originally platted in the early 19th Century as the main street of Versailles, an ambitious town plan that evolved into the present community of Chalmette.North of town, Route 61 was projected to traverse the swamps until reaching the natural ridge along Bayou Sauvage that supported the roadbed of the Old Spanish Trail, designated as Route 2.Now known as Old Gentilly Road, this highway became the original alignment of US 90 upon its designation in 1926.