Roadwork ahead: Emergency sewer repair closes Broadway in Fontainebleau

From the Mayor’s Office

On Wednesday (June 22), the city closed Broadway from Earhart Boulevard to Colapissa Street to vehicular traffic for approximately two days due to an emergency sewer point repair. Department of Public Works contractor Wallace C. Drennan installed security fencing and signage around the intersection. and flaggers will be onsite to direct drivers and pedestrians. That section of Broadway will be closed to vehicular traffic while crews complete the sewer point repair and Sewage & Water Board of New Orleans conducts a full inspection to avoid the possibility of a sewage backup. Drivers will detour from Colapissa to Pine Street until the expected reopen date of Friday (June 24).

Propeller and Thrive Nola name Flourish Horticulture as ’22 Water Challenge grand prize winner (sponsored)

 
Over the past decade, Propeller has awarded more than $200,000 to entrepreneurs through its PitchNOLA Series. Propeller and Thrive New Orleans announced that this year’s $10,000 Grand Prize and Audience Favorite Award will be awarded to Fabian Harper from Flourish Horticulture and an Audience Favorite prize will be awarded to Preston Robinson from Garden Picasso. On June 1, five local entrepreneurs pitched their solutions to improve our region’s water economy at the 11th annual The Water Challenge. The five finalists put forth water solutions that included green infrastructure, stormwater retention, sustainable housing and construction, and flood prevention. The June 1 event — sponsored by JPMorgan Chase AdvancingCities, New Orleans Business Alliance, Entergy and the city of New Orleans — featured a judges’ panel of industry leaders and experts, growth stage venture panel, a virtual address from Mitch Landrieu, the 61st mayor of New Orleans, and a total of $17,500 awarded to all finalists.

Business Council lauds S&WB power substation deal (sponsored)

The Business Council of New Orleans and the River Region applauds Mayor Cantrell, the New Orleans City Council, Entergy and the Sewerage and Water Board for working together to advance one of the most critical infrastructure projects for New Orleans. The new S&WB power substation will greatly enhance the reliability of the City’s water-related infrastructure, including pumps and pump stations, and reduce the chances of boil water advisories and flooding resulting from bad weather events. This is a major milestone in creating the critical infrastructure necessary to ensure a prosperous future for New Orleans.

Leaky turbine spewing oil on Carrollton Power Plant neighbors, WWL-TV reports

The state Department of Environmental Quality released a report confirming neighbors’ complaints that one of the Sewerage & Water Board’s aged turbines is leaking oil and spewing it over their property, the latest in a series of hazards surrounding the Carrollton Power Plant, David Hammer reported on WWL-TV. As the S&WB spends millions to fix the outdated equipment that runs the city’s critical drainage and water pumps, the continual equipment failures damage Carrollton-area neighbors’ quality of life. An agency spokeswoman told Hammer the S&WB will meet with neighbors and is working with its insurance company on property damage claims and with turbine maker GE to schedule diagnostic tests on Turbine 5.

New power substation: Our city must act now (sponsored)

The power supply that operates the city’s water-related infrastructure, including pumps and pump stations, is obsolete, unreliable and expensive to maintain. Without a dependable power supply, New Orleans is at serious and constant risk for flooding and boil water advisories that bad weather events can cause. A well-developed plan exists to reduce the future risks and disruptive impacts of the failure of the city’s vulnerable water-related power system: a dedicated substation, which will provide power to the city’s pumps. Development of the substation is well underway, with projected completion in 2023 if we act now. Unfortunately, the project is in danger of stalling or even unraveling if the city does not quickly secure $30 million in funding.

Traffic advisory: Temporary road closure of Broadway extended through mid-June

From the Mayor’s Office

Due to weather and construction-related delays, the 3100 block of Broadway Street between Earhart Boulevard and Colapissa Street will remain closed through mid-June 2021. Department of Public Works contractor Wallace C. Drennan Construction Co. will continue sewer-line replacement operations as part of the Marlyville-Fontainebleau Group C infrastructure improvement project. View the original project presentation with more information on the construction here. Residents and commuters are reminded to use caution when driving, bicycling and walking near the construction site.

Roadwork updates: Audubon, Black Pearl, East Carrollton, Broadmoor, Central City, Freret, Fontainebleau

From the Mayor’s Office

Audubon Group A

After taking a pause during the holidays, Boh Bros Construction Co. crews continued underground utility work and roadway restoration in the Audubon neighborhood as part of the $7.3 million Audubon Group A infrastructure improvement project.  In January, crews continued excavation and milling work on Hurst and Octavia streets. Waterline work on Webster and Henry Clay streets continued in close collaboration with Sewerage & Water Board. The project is currently scheduled to be complete in summer 2021, weather permitting. Black Pearl, East Carrollton Group A

The $11.9 million Black Pearl, East Carrollton Group A project, which began construction in August 2020, continues to make progress.

Cambronne and Birch intersection closes for upgrades as the Hollygrove, Leonidas roadwork project moves forward

Beginning on Monday (Feb. 1) and continuing through Friday (Feb. 5), weather permitting, Department of Public Works contractor Wallace C. Drennan Inc. will close the intersection at Cambronne and Birch streets to vehicular traffic as part of the Hollygrove, Leonidas Group A project. Traffic controls and signage will be in place; residents and commuters are reminded to use caution when driving, bicycling and walking near the construction site. Construction crews will close the intersection to remove and replace the entire intersection all at one time.