RoadworkNOLA Newsletter - January 2019

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Capital Improvement Program Newsletter - January 2019 

Message from the Mayor

Mayor

We are making significant headway in fixing our infrastructure. Combining local and federal dollars, our $2.3 billion Capital Improvement Project is the most comprehensive infrastructure revamp our region has seen in decades. The City is giving new projects the go-ahead and working to keep current projects on-schedule so that we can swiftly improve our roads.

I would like to highlight RoadworkNOLA successes across the city that you will read about in this newsletter:

District A: Crews are now 90 percent complete with the Fleur de Lis Drive Phase III Reconstruction Project between 30th Street and Old Hammond Highway in the West End neighborhood.

District B: The St. Charles (Louisiana Avenue to Napoleon Avenue) Resurfacing project, a joint effort between the City of New Orleans and the Louisiana Department of Transportation, is nearing the final inspection stage.

District C: Crews have completed work in the 500 block of Bourbon Street and are wrapping up construction of the new waterline, drain line and roadway in the 600 block roadway. Once the fence has been removed from the 600 block roadway and relocated to the first part of the 700 block roadway, crews will simultaneously begin work on the new waterline in the 700 block and sidewalks in the 600 block.

District D: The Gentilly Terrace Group A project has moved into the substantial completion phase, pending the conclusion of work that was added to the original scope. City of New Orleans contractor Roubion Shoring & Construction crews are in the process of fully reconstructing the roadway on Acacia Street.

District E: City of New Orleans contractor Beverly Construction LLC are currently performing final waterline point repairs throughout the Lower Ninth Ward Northeast Group A project, bringing work in the area closer to substantial completion. 

Sincerely,

Signature

LaToya Cantrell,
Mayor City of New Orleans

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Want to know about construction work happening in your neighborhood? Visit us at www.Roadwork.NOLA.gov or call 504.658.ROAD today.
  

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What to Expect During Construction

Construction Impacts:

  • Additional construction equipment
  • Limited parking availability
  • Temporary lane / road closures
  • Sounds 
  • Dust

Efforts to Minimize Impacts:

  • Construction signage placed around the sites. 
  • Any temporary closures will be communicated in advance.
  • Any changes to garbage and U.S. Postal services will be communicated in advance. 
  • Residents will be informed throughout construction.

Max Pave – Rejuvenating Our Roads

Before and after

The Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans (SWBNO) continually performs routine repairs to the city’s water and sewer pipes that lay below city streets. Once a repair is complete, the utility cut is backfilled temporarily with sand and crushed concrete. The temporary fill in these cuts often erodes, leaving uneven pavement.

To make the roads safer for motorists and neighborhood residents, the Department of Public Works is investing $6.5 M in Capital Funds to pave approximately 900 open roadway utility cuts across the city. To date, nearly forty percent are either in process or have been completed.  Read more here.

City Hall Spotlight: Keith LaGrange, Jr., Director, Department of Public Works

by Samuel T. Gordon, Liaison

keith

1. Did you always want to be a civil engineer?

I grew up working in a family restaurant and managed it upon graduating from high school. We were in business until Katrina. After the storm, I brought a food trailer back to feed demo crews and people cleaning houses. We stayed busy with that for a few years. After the demo crews left, the restaurant industry bottomed. With that, I wound up with going to work for the St. Bernard Parish government. I was the only member of the Building Maintenance Department and painted walls, repaired sheet rock, or whatever the Parish President needed. Shortly after staring I was transferred to the Engineering Department as an inspector.

Pre-Katrina I was in school for finance. I went back to UNO and switched to engineering. After Katrina, this was a growing industry and there was definitely a need for engineers. I went to school while working and graduated in 2013. After, I went into private sector and worked for an engineering firm. I was then asked to lead the St. Bernard Department of Public Works, which is what I did until beginning this job!

2. What is your favorite restaurant in the City of New Orleans?

Café Atchafalaya

3. Describe your job in 25 words or less.

Our job is to provide sustainability, connectivity, and quality of life for the citizens of New Orleans.

I’m excited, with a lot of challenges ahead. I feel we have great resources that haven’t been exploited, as well as lot of great employees.

4. What do you see as the biggest challenges for you as the Director of DPW?

The size of the problems. With limited funding it’s hard to pick and choose your battles, especially when everything is important. Identifying top priorities with the help of City Council allows us to take small bites out of a large problem. Efficiently spending the tax payers’ dollars and not wasting money is our top priority.  

5. What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most, so far?

I love interacting with the public. I also enjoy the chaos and the diversity of public works because there are five different divisions in the department there’s never a dull moment. I like to always be engaged. I’m a hands-on manager.

6. What is a fun fact people should know about you?

You wouldn’t know by looking at me, but I’ve completed three Half Iron Man triathlons.  This consists of traversing a 70.3 mile course.
Road Construction Toolkit

 

While road construction can be hard on small businesses, the maintenance and repairs can be good for your company in the end. With this positive outcome in mind, we've created this guide to road construction. Click here to download our Road Construction Toolkit.
JOBS


Jobs at the City are divided into unclassified and classified service. Most jobs are classified positions. For a full list of employment opportunities visit the City of New Orleans job portal or click here to learn more about how to get a job with the City of New Orleans.                  
lead service

 

As part of the Capital Improvement Program, Sewerage & Water Board may be replacing lead services between the water main and meters, which may cause temporary elevations in lead levels. If you are notified that a lead service from the water main will be replaced, click here for next steps.