x
Breaking News
More () »

Construction starts on green drainage project to help fight flooding in Mid-City, Treme

The $7.5 million dollar project is expected to increase drainage and reduce flooding, according to Green. It will also utilize green infrastructure to retain and absorb storm water.

NEW ORLEANS — A year and a half after the flooding of July and August 2017, the city has started on a different approach to reduce the amount of flooding in Mid-City and Treme. 

This week, crews working with the Sewerage and Water Board and the Department of Public Works began construction on the "Hagan Lafitte Drainage Upgrades & Green Infrastructure" project, which will place water storage tanks underneath the Easton Park playground.  

RELATED: Down the Drain: An Eyewitness Investigation

Residents in Mid-City and Treme reacted positively to the project and told Eyewitness News they can easily remember the Aug. 5 flooding from two summers ago.

"It was waist deep for the August 5 flood here," said Allie Abel, who has lived in Mid-City for more than five years. "Just a few more inches and it would have been inside the house."

Before Aug. 5, Abel said the area did not traditionally flood. Still, she said she was pleased that the city was taking steps to reduce the risk of flooding.

RELATED: S&WB fills ditch dug on Algiers street after WWLTV report

Ramsey Green, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer in Mayor LaToya Cantrell's cabinet, called the endeavor a "sophisticated drainage project."

"[It's] to ensure the streets in this neighborhood don't flood like they have in the past, specifically August 5," Green said.

RELATED: $140 million or $50 million? S&WB disputes amount owed in unpaid bills


The $7.5 million dollar project is expected to increase drainage and reduce flooding, according to Green. It will also utilize green infrastructure to retain and absorb storm water.

"This park is going to have massive containers underneath the grass once it's in there and then those containers drain into the St. Louis Relief Canal," Green said.

RELATED: S&WB could be leaving $140 million on the table, City Council says

City leaders said the multi-million dollar project is expected to be complete in the spring of 2020.

"This is brilliant, this is the kind of stuff we need, forward thinking people like that," said one resident named Louis. 

RELATED: First a street water leak, then Gentilly woman gets a $121,000 bill from S&WB

Click here for more information on the project from Nola.gov

Before You Leave, Check This Out