NEW ORLEANS — A cluster of blocks around N. Villere Street has been under construction for more than a year. It is part of a massive project to help drainage in the area.
The project has come with nuisances for neighbors. “It’s been loud outside,” said Talayah Stanton, who lives on Spain Street. Her mother, Tieara Gillin, said her car and home have been filled with dust. “It’s just like why wash it, or why even bother cleaning it,” she said.
The construction is part of the $18 million St. Roch Drainage Upgrades Project.
Its goal is to improve drainage in the area by installing larger storm drain pipes and some “green infrastructure” features, including permeable pavers.
In an email to residents Friday morning, obtained by WWL Louisiana, a city representative said the whole project is on track to be finished by the end of October barring any major disruptions.
Many neighbors said the City has been giving frequent updates and has been responsive to concerns. “I’ve called a handful of times asking for advice,” said Raul Erivez, “they answer the phone, and if they don’t pick up they get back to you.” He said flooding has been common in parts of the neighborhood in the past, so the project makes sense.
But he and other neighbors expressed safety concerns with the work being done. On some blocks, the road is completely gutted, and the sidewalk drops off steeply on one side. Parts of it have crumbled away, leaving spots where there is less than three feet to get by. “On some of these streets there are some senior citizens, and god forbid they need some kind of emergency service,” said Erivez.
WWL Louisiana reached out to the City of New Orleans about the sidewalks Friday. A spokesperson responded with this statement:
Command crews are working today in building handrails on Spain Street and bringing up the #57 stone, located on top of the installed perforated pipes. We will now be able to build ramps on top, providing safe access to the resident’s homes. Other areas where the sidewalk is wide, we are adding more cones and placing orange fencing, instead of the caution tape.
We are focusing on these tasks all day today and it is scheduled to be completed by the end of today.
He added that the rumbling from the heavy machinery has already caused cracks in his home, and that other neighbors have experienced the same thing. On its site where it posts updates on the project Roadwork NOLA says residents with property damage due to the construction should “file a damage claim directly with the construction contractor,” listed as Command Construction Industries.
Despite the headache, neighbors say they hope the end result of the project will be worth it. “If it beautifies the street and makes it less flood-prone I’m all for it,” said Erivez. “I’m looking forward to a smooth street,” said Gillin.
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