NEW ORLEANS – The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) hosted a press conference today to announce the start of Phase 2 roadway repairs on Magazine Street, from St. Andrew Street to Napoleon Avenue. The event was held at Joey K’s restaurant, one of the businesses that will be affected by Phase 2 construction.

"In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and throughout the recovery efforts, Magazine Street was one of the most heavily used routes used by repair crews. Heavy equipment and trucks caused significant distress to the roadway," said DOTD spokesperson Roy Quezaire. "Today marks the second phase of repairing the damage from Hurricane Katrina to this vital roadway."

The $6.7 million project, which began in January, is repairing and resurfacing Magazine Street from US 90B to Nashville Avenue. The contractor for the project is Plus Concrete, Inc.

"Phase 1 construction went extremely well on Magazine Street," said DOTD Project Manager Jeffrey Burst. "We completed the first phase of the project on time and the repairs have been well received. We’re looking forward to the next two phases and continuing on this accelerated schedule."

The project construction is divided into three separate phases to minimize impact on businesses and residents.

• Phase 1: US 90B to St. Andrew Street (0.68 miles)
• Phase 2: St. Andrew Street to Napoleon Avenue (1.79 miles)
• Phase 3: Napoleon Avenue to Nashville Avenue (1.05 miles)

Work on the project consists of patching, resurfacing, repairing curbs and installing new ADA handicap ramps. At some locations, storm water drain pipe repairs, sidewalk repair and other miscellaneous work will occur.

The DOTD and the City of New Orleans worked with local merchants by adjusting the construction schedule to accommodate busy shopping seasons and ensure the project began after Christmas 2010 and will be complete by Thanksgiving 2011.

Through a continuing collaborative partnership between the Submerged Roads Program and our local partners, additional enhancements were incorporated into the Magazine Street project. Those funding sources include:

The project is part of the $118 million South Louisiana Submerged Roads Program, a comprehensive road repair program to repair and resurface roads damaged as a result of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The program is funded by the Emergency Relief Program of the Federal Highway Administration. It is administered by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) is committed to delivering transportation and public works systems that enhance the quality of life. In addition to more than 16,600 miles of roadway, including over 890 miles of interstate, DOTD supports the development of the state’s aviation, marine and rail infrastructures. Through this work, we are able to facilitate economic development, create job opportunities, improve vital evacuation routes, and make critical freight corridors safer and more efficient.