Mayor Helena Moreno announced the creation of a new Street Maintenance Unit funded with $6.25 million in unspent bond funds from 2019 to 2024. According to the Mayor’s Office, the initiative will establish a durable, in-house street and infrastructure repair program, shifting work previously handled by private contractors to city management.
The funding was reallocated through a budget ordinance that redirects money originally set aside for private contracting. The Mayor’s Office said the funds include allocations from projects such as Broad Street Bridge Delineator Upgrades and a French Quarter construction project, where initial budgets were higher than needed or plans changed. Moreno said the new unit will focus on coordinating and accelerating paving projects across the city.
City council members have expressed support for the plan. Council President J.P. Morrell said the in-house unit would return services to public management, while Council Member Eugene Green noted the city would be able to respond more quickly to street conditions. The Department of Public Works expects to hire 50 workers for the Street Paving Unit. The ordinance is scheduled for a council vote on February 26.
