BATON ROUGE, La. – Today, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) announced that second passes on debris removal will begin in St. Charles, St. Bernard, Lafourche, St. John the Baptist and Terrebonne parishes this week. DOTD encourages citizens to move debris to the side of the roadway for pick up into the weekend.

To help speed the process, DOTD requests that storm-related debris be separated into two piles – vegetative debris (trees, limbs, etc.) in one pile and demolition debris related to storm damage in another. Household appliances should be placed separately and to the side.

In addition to utilizing state crews, DOTD has hired contractors to remove debris in the Hammond and New Orleans areas.  To date, over 265,000 cubic yards of debris has been removed from affected roadways, approximately 17,500 cubic yards a day. Crews continue to remove debris in the Baton Rouge, Hammond and New Orleans areas. DOTD is over 90% complete with its first pass of debris collections in affected areas. Remaining areas still being cleared include La. 23, La. 39, La 11, U.S. 61, U.S. 90 and La. 46 based on the heavy amount of debris in the area. Approximately 20 tombs, 13 boats, 18 vehicles and 6 houses are in the process of being removed from state roadways or right-of-ways.

DOTD is responsible for picking up storm-related debris on all routes in the state system, including all state, interstate and U.S. routes – over 8,650 miles of roadway in the affected area.

Currently, La. 23 and La. 39 in Plaquemines Parish are the focus of concentrated debris removal.  Specifically on La. 23, the debris consists of mounds of marsh grass.  On La. 39, residents are just returning to the area and the state is working through issues with parish officials and citizens regarding relocated houses that have shifted into roadways, policing or oversight agencies regarding unclaimed property including vehicles and boats and the Department of Health and Hospitals regarding tombs that have shifted into roadways. DOTD is also coordinating with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for identification of potentially hazardous materials such as lead and asbestos to ensure proper procedures for demolition and disposal.

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.

For more information, please visit www.dotd.la.gov, email dotdcs@la.gov, or call DOTD’s Customer Service Center at (225) 379-1232 or 1-877-4LADOTD (1-877-452-3683). Business hours are 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

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www.dotd.la.gov