Heads up, New Orleans drivers: Starting tomorrow, you'll need to tweak your commute as construction hits Old Gentilly Road. According to a notice from the City of New Orleans Department of Public Works, lane closures kick off tomorrow, Oct. 16 at 7 a.m., stretching from Louisa Street to Desire Parkway and it's not a quick fix – we're looking at about two weeks of disruptions.
The Department of Public Works has handed the reins to Hard Rock Construction Co., LLC for this job, they'll be replacing concrete panels which spells intermittent lane closures on the 4300–4600 blocks of Old Gentilly Road – right between Desire Parkway and Louisa Street, and this area includes the on-ramp to I-10, making for potential highway headaches. Traffic's going to squeeze into a single lane but at least you'll still be able to get to local spots.
For those who usually cruise through this area, it's high time to scout out some detours. And for pedestrians, expect to snake around some cones and signage—it's all there to keep you out of harm's way. Now if you're used to parking on those streets, you might want to rethink your plans; 'no parking' signs will pop up wherever the crews are digging in for the day.
But this isn't just about those few blocks. This concrete panel replacement is just one piece of a bigger city-wide effort, dubbed the DPW775: Right-of-Way Improvement Concrete Project, aiming to spruce up various corners of the city from sidewalks to streets. The typical work schedule runs Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., but don't be surprised if you catch them clocking in over the weekend when it’s needed.
