Nola Reporter

NEW ORLEANS — Mayor LaToya Cantrell today was joined by Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Infrastructure Joseph Threat, Interim General Superintendent for Sewerage and Water Board New Orleans (SWBNO) Ron Spooner, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Supervisory Emergency Manager Ronnie Fairley, District D Councilmember Eugene Green and President of the Seventh Ward Neighborhood Association Dr. Mona Lisa Saloy to celebrate the completion of the $9.9 million, 11-block Bayou St. John, Fairgrounds, Seventh Ward Group E roadwork project.  

“As a city on the frontlines of a changing climate, it is now more important than ever that we finish what we have started,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “The time to invest in our infrastructure is now to guarantee New Orleans’ sustainability and resiliency through the mounting climate challenges, especially considering the historic level of federal resources available from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. Coordinating these improvements within our neighborhoods is extraordinarily difficult for everyone involved – the residents, designers and construction contractors and my infrastructure team. The City of New Orleans will continue to leverage our infrastructure dollars to ensure equity is built into these roadway projects, as well as prioritize the improvement of our aging infrastructure to ensure the safety and improved quality of life of all residents.” 

The scope of work includes replacing damaged underground water, sewer and drainage lines, repaving the asphalt roadway, replacing damaged sidewalks and driveway aprons and installing American with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant curb ramps at intersections. SWBNO specifically worked on 8 blocks, replacing water and sewerage lines that were 65 to 80 years old.  

 “As you move around our city, there are 10,000 blocks being improved,” said Threat. “As I’ve said before, we are actively seeking funding from our federal and state partners to fix another 10,000 blocks, so that all the City of New Orleans can look like what we see here today. Construction is serious and complex work, and even more so in a 300-year-old city. However, we are determined to finish this work and will not stop until we complete this whole portfolio.” 

“This project falls under the Joint Infrastructure Recovery Request (JIRR) program that we have been working on closely with DPW,” said Spooner. “Aging infrastructure will not last forever, so we continue working through to repair and replace. I’d like to touch on the three C’s of infrastructure projects under the Cantrell administration: collaboration between DPW, SWBNO and all the contractors; cooperation with our federal and state partners to expedite projects; and compassion to ensure we are minimizing disruptions to residents. Teamwork is key to continuing this progress.” 

This project was fully funded by FEMA under the JIRR program.  

“It is a pleasure to come out here and see a finished project,” said Fairley. “FEMA will continue to be here and work together with the City of New Orleans until we hold a ribbon cutting on every block, in every neighborhood throughout the city. We remain dedicated until we see it all finished.” 

“I am pleased to be here because it did not look like this just a little while ago,” said Councilmember Green. “It is also exciting to learn more about the new technology that SWBNO utilized for this project that allowed them to lay a full block of water line in just one day, again minimizing disruptions for this neighborhood. I am thankful Mayor Cantrell has put the right people in place to get the work done, and I thank these hardworking City employees and contractors for making a difference in our city.” 

Since May 2018, the Department of Public Works has completed 53 roadwork projects in District D with an estimated value of $217 million, including the $8.5 million Gardena Dr. (St. Bernard Ave. - Paris Ave.) project and the $9 million Gentilly Terrace Group C project earlier this year. Today, there are 17 roadwork projects currently under construction in District D with an estimated value of $305 million. Another 11 District D projects are in the Bid & Award Phase with an estimated value of $120 million. Additionally, since May 2018, DPW has completed 178 projects citywide with an estimated value of $750 million. Today, 49 roadwork projects are under construction across the city with an estimated value of nearly $692 million. 

“This is the Seventh Ward; this is our home, the home of jazz, of Allen Toussaint and of the Yellow Pocahontas,” said Dr. Saloy. “This neighborhood is home to so much culture and so many people. I would be remiss if I did not praise Mayor Cantrell for her leadership, for tackling blight and addressing our long-neglected infrastructure. Your administration is helping us to keep creating our culture that the world loves.”

Original source can be found here.