Traffic Advisory: 'Slow Streets' Traffic Modification on Downtown
Side of Moss Street as Part of COVID-19 Response
NEW ORLEANS — On Wednesday, May 6, weather permitting, the City of New Orleans, Department of Public Works maintenance contractor Hard Rock Construction, LLC will move forward to install a temporary traffic modification to limit access on the downtown side of Moss Street between Lafitte Avenue and Esplanade Avenue along Bayou St. John to local traffic and emergency vehicles only. This temporary traffic modification is being implemented as part of the City’s COVID-19 response under the Slow Streets initiative, which aims to provide additional space for safe social distancing where crowding occurs.
Public safety is our priority; local traffic should use extreme caution for pedestrians and bicyclists and likewise pedestrians and bicyclists should be aware of moving vehicles.
The Slow Streets initiative is a collaboration between the Department of Health, the Department of Public Works and the Mayor’s Office of Transportation. The goal of the program is to mitigate spacial barriers to social distancing by providing more room for people to adequately walk, bike and jog while maintaining the required six-foot distance from others. Based on examples nationwide, the above-mentioned departments developed the Slow Streets initiative to convert low-traffic roadways to spaces that allow for pedestrians, allowing people to stay safe distances from each other.
"We are being intentional about creating healthy, safe outdoor spaces for our residents in response to the COVID-19 outbreak," said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. "The 'Slow Streets' initiative will better manage the flow of people walking, bicycling, and driving along Bayou St. John, allowing more space for people to safely social distance as we continue to flatten the curve and prepare to reopen our City."
According to DPW, between March 20 and May 3 there were 117 calls to 911 informing of public gatherings along Bayou St John.
In preparation, DPW has been collecting traffic counts on both sides of Moss Street and coordinating with public safety agencies (NOPD, NOFD and EMS) to understand the potential impacts of the temporary traffic modification. Once the modifications are in place — which includes signage, cones and 24 hours a day, seven days per week barricades — Moss Street will be closed to through traffic and accessible only to residents, businesses, deliveries, and emergency vehicles. There will be no changes to existing on-street parking restrictions; no parking will be permitted on the bayou embankment and people should not set up tables, chairs and/or other items in the roadway.
The temporary traffic modification will be in place through the morning of Monday, May 18, 2020. DPW will be monitoring and evaluating throughout the duration of the modification on Moss Street, and considering other Slow Street implementations around the city where people recreate and crowding occurs.
Since "Stay Home" orders were issued in March, cities throughout the country have determined ways to better serve residents’ health and mobility needs now that fewer cars are on the streets.
"The Mayor's Office of Transportation is excited to collaborate with the Department of Public Works and the New Orleans Health Department to identify potential Slow Streets and fulfill our mission to create safer, more accessible ways to navigate our City at this critical time," said Laura Bryan, Director, Mayor's Office of Transportation. "We are taking best practices from other cities who are responding to the COVID-19 outbreak and working with our team to be innovative and thoughtful to better serve our residents."
[LEARN MORE: Check out the Slow Streets section of the Moving New Orleans page]
Questions should be directed to RoadWork NOLA at 504.658.ROAD (7623) or roadwork@nola.gov.
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