Nola Reporter

NEW ORLEANS — The City of New Orleans Department of Public Works (DPW) is advising motorists to be cautious of potentially compromised roadways due to extreme weather conditions. The prolonged drought this region has been experiencing, in combination with the extreme heat of the summer, has led to changes in the moisture content of the soil. This has resulted in a change in roadway conditions throughout the city. 

Extreme heat initiates the “thermal expansion” process. Concrete is designed in slabs to focus this movement at the joint between the slabs. Therefore, overheating in the roadway surface exacerbates thermal expansion and may result in new cracks, potholes and buckles in roadway joints. 

“DPW recognizes that public awareness is imperative to safety and well-being,” said Deputy Chief Administrative Officer of Infrastructure Joseph Threat. “We ask that our community partners join in a collaborative effort to report any dangerous roadway conditions. DPW will prioritize the repairs around public safety and community impacts as funding is available. Thank you for understanding as we work to assess and repair the failures as they appear throughout our city.” 

Additionally, this year’s drought conditions have affected the groundwater levels in the city. Soils in the region are diverse and highly influenced by moisture. They tend to swell and crack open when dry, making constructing and maintaining foundations, roads and pipelines difficult. Natural and mechanical fluctuations in the groundwater can leave roadways vulnerable to subsidence, a significant problem in the region that causes pavement to sink and crack. The City has been working to address this issue as a part of the Hazard Mitigation Plan.  

As part of the $2 billion Joint Infrastructure (JIRR) Program, DPW has invested $250 million in FEMA-funded Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) projects. Additionally, DPW continues to address the City’s aging infrastructure and roadways by completing 174 projects at an estimated value of $702 million since May 2018. Currently, there are 504 roadwork projects under construction at an estimated value of nearly $640 million.

Original source can be found here.