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DOTD celebrates South Louisiana Submerged Roads Program’s first completed project

Marconi Avenue improvements complete in two months

NEW ORLEANS – The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) today hosted a public ribbon-cutting ceremony and reception to mark the first completed project of the South Louisiana Submerged Roads Program – a repair and overlay project on Marconi Drive. 

The program, which is 100-percent funded by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), will restore several hurricane-damaged roads. The program funds approved projects in five eligible parishes – Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard and St. Tammany.

“We’re not just cutting a ribbon here today. We’re delivering on a promise we made,” said DOTD Legislative Liaison Roy Quezaire. “Just as we have worked diligently with the city of New Orleans to complete this project, we look forward to working with other parishes throughout the region to get more hurricane-damaged roads repaired.”

Phase A, the first phase of the program, includes approximately 50 projects in Orleans, Jefferson and St. Bernard parishes and is anticipated to cost approximately $100 million.  DOTD and the New Orleans Regional Planning Commission (NORPC) are identifying potential projects for Phase B in Plaquemines and St. Tammany parishes.

Along with Quezaire, representatives from the FHWA, NORPC and the New Orleans City Council gave remarks during the ceremony.

Elected officials, business and agency representatives and local residents also attended the ceremony, which was held at Marconi Drive and Harrison Avenue in City Park in New Orleans.

For more information on the South Louisiana Submerged Roads Program please log on to www.pavinglaroads.com or call the South Louisiana Submerged Roads Program Information Line at 1-800-574-7193.

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