NEW ORLEANS — On Monday, Sept. 16, at 8 a.m., the City of New Orleans, Department of Public Works’ construction contractor, Hard Rock Construction, LLC will begin installing the moveable bollard system in the 500 block of Bourbon Street. During this time, the 500 block will be closed to vehicular traffic; however, the intersections of St. Louis and Bourbon streets and Toulouse and Bourbon streets will remain open. All businesses along this corridor will remain open and accessible to pedestrians.
The closure of the 500 block is scheduled to last about one week, weather permitting. Once the bollards have been installed in the 500 block, crews will move sequentially through the 750 block. The NOPD and the New Orleans Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness are responsible for opening and closing the bollards in the 100-750 blocks of Bourbon Street.
The Matador System was selected because it is the most resistant bollard of its type on the market, largely due to its internal reinforcement. The system is comprised of a baseplate with two, fixed bollards on either side of one central sliding bollard that moves to the side to allow vehicular access. The design permits continuous pedestrian access, even when the bollards are in the closed position.
The City is roughly 90 percent complete with the project; the contractor has fully reconstructed the roadway between St. Louis and Orleans streets (500-750 blocks) with upsized drainage, a better sewer system, new sidewalks and new, smoother pavement. Additionally, the lighting and security have been upgraded between St. Louis and St. Peter streets. Entergy Gas and Entergy Electric have completed upgrades to their services in the 500-800 blocks.
Entergy Gas and Entergy Electric are upgrading their facilities between on St. Ann Street between Dauphine and Bourbon streets. Residents and commuters should anticipate roadway closures while they complete their work; the block will reopen at night. The City/Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans (SWBNO) are in the process of designing the sewer, water and drainage work for this block. Once City/SWBNO work begins in the October timeframe, the block will be fenced off; specific scheduling details will follow in a future update.
The $9.5 million cost-shared project, which is anticipated to run through fall 2019, was designed by Mott McDonald, LLC and will be constructed by Hard Rock Construction, LLC. Project partners include Entergy Electric, Entergy Gas, Cox Communications and AT&T. A full description of the project and weekly updates are available at: http://roadwork.nola.gov/bourbon/.
Questions about our French Quarter Infrastructure Improvement Project may be directed via e-mail to roadwork@nola.gov or to our RoadworkNOLA hotline 504.658.ROAD (7623).
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