[StBernard] DOTD groundbreaking on Jean Lafitte Parkway - the first project in St. Bernard Parish to repair hurricane-damaged roads under the Submerged Roads Program

Westley Annis Westley at da-parish.com
Thu Aug 13 20:29:24 EDT 2009


DOTD hosts groundbreaking ceremony for St. Bernard Parish recovery project



CHALMETTE, La. - The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development
(DOTD) broke ground today on Jean Lafitte Parkway - the first project in St.
Bernard Parish to repair hurricane-damaged roads under the Submerged Roads
Program.



The program, which is 100-percent funded by the Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA), is restoring roads damaged by Hurricanes Katrina and
Rita in Orleans, Jefferson and St. Bernard parishes.



"St. Bernard Parish was one of the hardest hit by the storm, and the damage
was extensive on Jean Lafitte Parkway," said DOTD Assistant Secretary of
Operations Connie Standige. "This road is just the start. We are looking
forward to repairing seven more roads in St. Bernard under the program."



Along with Standige, FHWA Project Delivery Team Leader Carl Highsmith, New
Orleans Regional Planning Commission (NORPC) Executive Director Walter
Brooks, State Representative Nita Rusich Hutter, St. Bernard Parish
President Craig Taffaro and St. Bernard Parish Councilman Ray Lauga gave
remarks during the ceremony.



"This recovery is about partnerships," President Taffaro said. "Whenever you
have a project of this magnitude, it takes partnerships at all levels of
government. Today is a good day to show why moving to St. Bernard a good
investment."



Boh Bros. Construction Co. is the contractor for the $3.2 million project.
The project will repair and resurface a 1.7-mile segment of Jean Lafitte
Parkway from La. 46 to the Florida Walk Canal. In addition, the project will
resurface 0.64 miles of Patricia Street from Jean Lafitte Parkway to Cougar
Drive. Construction is anticipated to be complete in spring 2010.



To improve efficiency and lessen the disruption to drivers, DOTD coordinated
with parish officials, the NORPC and the FHWA to include a portion of a
major drainage project simultaneously with repairs to Jean Lafitte.



The South Louisiana Submerged Roads Program is 100-percent funded through
the Emergency Relief Program of the Federal Highway Administration. Phase A
of the program includes more than 50 street projects in Orleans, Jefferson
and St. Bernard parishes with an investment of more than $100 million.



For more information regarding the South Louisiana Submerged Roads Program,
please visit www.pavinglaroads.com or call the public information line at
1-800-574-7193. For more information about Growth and Recovery in St.
Bernard, visit www.sbpg.net <http://www.sbpg.net/> .



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