[StBernard] Claiborne Avenue expressway demolition gets support in report

[Westley Annis]

"When I was going to Tulane Univ. in the evening, I was **very** glad to be
up on that elevated part of I-10 and above the surface streets in that area.
And whoever says putting it back as a surface street and only increasing
travel times a few minutes, is full of it. --JY"

Jer Responds:

I see your point of view. I followed this story closely because this was my
former neighborhood growing up in the 7th ward. My shopping was the Circle
Food Store on St. Bernard Avenue and Claiborne Ave. I attended catholic
school at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart on St. Bernard Avenue. Many times I
walked down Claiborne to the Famous Theatre, so I knew of the beautiful area
of Oak Trees torn down to make way of progress--an up-ramp to the
Interstate-10 system.

But, the roadway required the "neutral ground" and sadly, the tall oaks of
many years hence, to be replaced by concrete and an under-state 1-10 through
the years to be used for drunks, stolen cars, drugs and a plethora of crime
and lascivious behavior.

However, that was many years ago, (before the white flight in the early
60's) and the mid-60's brought more minorities, while the I-10 system was
required to facilitate around, those who overcrowded the streets with
red-lights and gaseous toxins which exacerbated a non-clean air issue.

And..crime WAS hardly heard in my community back then, other than the
traditional "after-school" meeting of pride and boastful exhibition, and
occasional hearing of domestic crime.

..much different, in this writer's experience, considering life experience.

With a probable return to street level, will it include onramps, off-ramps
for traffic to mix into the community (hence, paving the way for crime
against a daring or unaware out-of-town motorist)? (much like was discussed
in a possible Florida Avenue Expressway planned pre-Katrina through the
lower ninth ward and St. Bernard Parish to Paris Rd. Concern, I remember was
red lights or stop signs to "pause" a driver in a neighborhood in the ninth
or lower ninth ward enough to be rendered a target when motionless). Of
course, we don't know if on and off will be allowed on this proposed
venture.  However, this is a discernable issue and perhaps should be
considered, because the Interstate system is NOT a New Orleans thing, it's a
national thing because of the users of its highways. 

And, when a highway comes down to ground level, through neighborhoods,
Interstate system sound barrier walls go up because of the noise to isolate
or separate the highway (which will reverberate much noise into
neighborhoods generating complaints that the noise is deafening and serious
accidents with gas trucks, hazardous materials and more. Ooops, they'll have
to raise it up high again!<G>

St. Bernard Parish is involved here, because this area is the route and
gateway to da parish's entrance (along with New Orleans east and St.
Claude/Florida Avenues. 

For more info, there is always:
http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/07/photos_for_iten.html

--jer--