Mayor Landrieu Joins City Officials and Lower Ninth Ward Business and Community Leaders to Celebrate Completion of North Galvez St. Roadway Reconstruction Project
NEW ORLEANS — Today, Mayor Mitch Landrieu joined City officials and Lower Ninth Ward business and community leaders to celebrate completion of the North Galvez St. Roadway Reconstruction Project. This $8.3 million infrastructure improvement project completely reconstructed one-mile of roadway and included removal of the existing roadway; installation of new drainage, sewer and waterlines beneath the roadway; as well as new reinforced concrete roadway.
“Today marks another step forward in our commitment to rebuild the Lower Ninth Ward,” said Mayor Landrieu. “The reconstruction of North Galvez St. is indicative of the historic capital improvement program the City is about to undertake. This summer, the City successfully secured a final $1.2 billion settlement with FEMA to repair Hurricane Katrina-related damage to New Orleans’ roads and subsurface infrastructure. This represents a major down payment on our city’s future as every neighborhood in New Orleans will feel this positive impact. With every project we complete, we are one step closer to rebuilding the New Orleans not how she was, but how she was always meant to be.”
Construction of the North Galvez St. Roadway Reconstruction Project began summer 2015 and consisted of restoring one mile of roadway along North Galvez St. between Tennessee St. and Delery St., adding new striping, new catch basins and ADA-compliant ramps at intersections. Infrastructure improvements were designed by N-Y Associates and constructed by Command Construction Industries, LLC. This project was funded by City bond funds and Sewerage and Water Board bond funds.
Cedric Grant, Executive Director of Sewerage and Water Board and Head of Integrated Infrastructure for the City, said, “I am pleased today to celebrate the completion of this project. The drainage improvements we made have significantly increased the capacity to move rain water from the roadway and ensure public safely. I want to thank all of the residents and businesses in this neighborhood for their patience during construction.”
COMMITMENT TO LOWER NINTH WARD
Since Mayor Landrieu took office in May 2010, more than $500 million has been committed to rebuilding the Lower Ninth Ward. Last year, the City opened the new $20.5 million Andrew P. Sanchez Community Center and new $4.1 million NOFD Engine 39 Fire Station, which are both located at the intersection of North Claiborne Avenue and Caffin Street, just down the street from the new CVS/pharmacy. An additional $260 million was invested in the Lower Ninth Ward housing stock through Road Home, Hazard Mitigation Grant, Small Rental Program, Non-Profit Rebuilding Pilot program and HOME funding.
The City has invested more than $90 million in critical road repairs. To reduce blight, more than 500 structures have been demolished or brought into compliance and cleared over 650 property lots. Through the Mayor’s targeted, place-based development strategy, the Lower Ninth Ward’s recovery is also benefitting from initiatives like the $52 million “soft second” mortgage homebuyer assistance program and Lot Next Door Program reforms aimed at getting over grown and vacant property back into commerce.
Earlier this year, the City celebrated the grand opening of the new 13,000-square-foot CVS/pharmacy at 5000 N. Claiborne Ave., the first major retailer to open in the Lower Ninth Ward since Hurricane Katrina. In recent years, the City reopened the new $2.1 million Oliver Bush Playground and teamed with the New Orleans Hornets and Salvation Army to provide over $470,000 in improvements to Sam Bonart Playground.
