Department of Public Works Launches Next Phase of Smooth Streets Initiative with New Goal to Fill 1500 Potholes Per Week
NEW ORLEANS — The Department of Public Works (DPW), led by Deputy CAO of Infrastructure Steve Nelson, is launching the next phase of the city’s Smooth Streets initiative. This week, through prioritized deployment of personnel and resources, DPW will begin a new goal of filling 1500 potholes per week, an increase from roughly 500 per week. Mayor Helena Moreno will also request a $2.5M federal congressional earmark to hire additional crews and to purchase an additional pothole filler truck.
This new pothole filling initiative is in addition to the previously announced permanent pavement plan which brings in 50 new DPW workers to perform mill -and-overlay street repairs. Mayor Moreno will sign an executive order later this week to determine pathways to onboard employees faster and cut red tape, not just for DPW hires, but across city government.
“We have to continue to push every day to deliver better services for an improved quality of life for the people of New Orleans,” said Mayor Moreno. “I very much appreciate the leadership of Deputy CAO Nelson, who shares my sense of urgency to find solutions. I’m confident street and sidewalk maintenance will be transformed once all phases of Smooth Streets are implemented.”
“I am so proud of the hardworking and dedicated leadership, frontline crews and staff that serve the City of New Orleans every day,” said Steve Nelson, Deputy CAO of Infrastructure. “The city is focused on equipping and enabling this group to deliver results more efficiently than ever. We’re excited to see this increased productivity and report on a regular basis to see our streets get smoother every week.”
“DPW is committed to maximizing the resources available to make this important work happen,” said Shannon Oldfield-Blanks, Deputy Director of the Department of Public Works. “We’re identifying locations and routing crews to most effectively address problems that have plagued the City of New Orleans for far too long.”
Mayor Moreno also formed the Infrastructure Coordinating Council soon after taking office, which is similar to the Super Bowl infrastructure task force, to bring all stakeholders together weekly to ensure urgency, coordination, and collaboration for infrastructure and street projects. She has also been working diligently with GOHSEP and members of the Louisiana congressional delegation on ensuring FEMA extends the July 2026 deadline to spend the city’s Joint Infrastructure Recovery Request (JIRR) dollars.
The JIRR project repairs streets from top to bottom, including pipes and drainage. JIRR represents the most comprehensive rebuilding the region has seen in a generation.
# # #
|
