METAIRIE, La. — A yearslong, $14 million dollar project to improve drainage on Severn Avenue in Metairie has been finished for about a year. Now, there is more work to do.
Drivers have recently begun noticing a large patch of loose paving stones in the middle of the intersection of Severn and 17th Street. They make an audible “clack” when cars hit them.
Jefferson Parish Public Works Director Mark Drewes spoke to WWL-TV Thursday. He explained that the contractor for the project used the manufacturer’s recommended type of grout when installing the paving stones, but it appeared not to be holding firm. He also said during construction, cars ignored the cones marking off that section of the intersection, and the force of them driving over the paving stones before the grout was cured could also be playing a role.
Drewes added that the parish will fix the loose stones but will wait until after the holidays so the construction does not interfere with shopping at the Lakeside Mall. Crews may use smaller stones or a different type of grout. He said when the parish repairs the stones there will be no need to close the entire intersection.
Business owners along Severn Avenue are still frustrated with the possibility of another round of repairs. Follow Tea owner James Nguyen said during the first rounds, “a lot of people couldn’t get into [his] business.” He noticed the loose stones and wondered why “that small street project” took years and “still messed up.”
He, like others, also criticized the new bike lanes. Besides drainage, a goal of the Severn Avenue construction project was to make the busy street safer for cyclists and pedestrians. The lanes now feature brighter paint, raised barriers separating them from traffic, and poles with reflectors.
“I’ve hit the lane a couple of times already,” said Nguyen. “I’m a pretty good driver but I still hit the lane a couple of times.” He added that 18-wheelers often struggle to turn into shopping centers now, snarling traffic and creating a safety hazard.
Some appreciate the new lanes, though. Javier Garcia, who lives nearby and rides his skateboard to work on Severn Avenue, believes they are “better for the bikers, for skateboarding, for everybody.” He said he worries less about being hit by a car now.
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