What is the Capital Improvement Program?
The City of New Orleans and the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans are working together to implement an unprecedented construction program to restore the City’s damaged infrastructure. Using a combination of local and federal funds, the City is administering the most comprehensive infrastructure improvement program the region has seen in a generation. The $2.3B program includes approximately 200 individual projects and consists of repairing all, or a portion of, approximately 400 miles of roadway. For a block by block breakdown of planned construction, visit Roadwork.nola.gov.
How was the Capital Improvement Program funded?
The City is combining multiple funding sources to implement the Capital Improvement Program: FEMA-funded road / waterline work, FEMA-funded Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) projects, HUD-funded National Disaster Resiliency Competition (NDRC) grant projects, SWB-funded Sewer System Evaluation and Rehabilitation Program (SSERP) (sewer consent decree) work and City-funded bond project work (approved by voters via a bond measure in April 2016).
What is the Citywide Pavement Assessment?
The City completed a comprehensive, scientific assessment of City-owned streets in spring 2015 and received the final results of the assessment in the summer of 2016. The pavement condition assessment confirmed the following:
- The current average pavement condition rating for the City’s streets is poor (D-);
- Approximately 65 percent of the City’s streets rated in poor or worse condition;
- Historical levels of funding for streets is inadequate to prevent the overall condition of the City’s streets from getting worse; and
- It would take approximately $5B in funding to reconstruct/repave all of the City’s streets that are currently in poor or worse condition.
The City is using the results of the pavement assessment as part of the method to prioritize future infrastructure projects. To review results of your blocks assessment click here. To view the full report, click here.
A number of projects are under construction or scheduled to be under construction in the next year. What factors were used to prioritize construction projects?
The schedule of upcoming projects is available here In addition to the citywide Pavement Assessment, the City considered the availability of local and federal funding sources, the status of project designs, the current conditions of the underground water, sewer and drainage lines, and federal judgements such as the requirements of the Sewerage and Water Board’s Consent Decree to help prioritize infrastructure improvement work.
It’s common for a roadway surface to appear smooth but for the underground drainage, water or sewer lines to have leaks. It is also common for bumpy roadways to have underground utilities that are fully intact. The City considered these factors when developing the comprehensive Capital Improvement Program schedule.
why do construction schedules and start dates shift?
The Capital Improvement Program is highly complex, and the nearly 200 projects that make up the program vary in terms of the type of work, level of coordination with utilities, as well as the environmental compliance requirements. There are a number of factors that could contribute to schedule shifts including adjustments to the scope of a project during the design or planning phases and adjustments to the scope based on constructability issues during the construction phase. The construction schedule can also be affected by days lost due to weather. For more information about specific projects contact the Office of Strategic Engagement & Special Projects at ose@nola.gov or 504-658-7623.
How was the type of construction for each project determined?
The City considered several factors prior to determining the type of construction that would be scheduled on any given street. In addition to the citywide Pavement Assessment, the City considered the availability of local and federal funding sources, the status of project designs, the current conditions of the underground water, sewer and drainage lines, and federal judgements such as the requirements of the Sewerage and Water Board’s Consent Decree to help prioritize infrastructure improvement work.
For example, on roadways where a water line is known to be leaking, the City prioritized reconstruction of that roadway to include replacement of the damaged water line, repair or replacement of the sewer line and repair or replacement of the drainage line. This type of work is known as Full Reconstruction.
A full depth reconstruction project requires even more time for coordination with the Sewerage and Water Board and other utilities throughout the design, which is why these projects won’t begin until later in the program.
To learn more about the types of construction you can expect to see around the City, click on the links below:
When will construction begin?
Construction began in May 2017 and there are projects underway in several neighborhoods. You can view the schedule of upcoming projects here. The duration of construction varies depending on the type of construction planned on your block.
When will construction be complete?
The Capital Improvement Program is scheduled to be completed in 2023. You can view the schedule of upcoming and ongoing projects here. The duration of individual construction projects varies depending on the type of construction planned on your block, the scope of work and weather delays.
What type of construction impacts can I expect to experience?
The types of construction impacts you can expect will vary by the type of construction planned; however, you can expect to experience the following:
- Limited parking availability
- Presence of safety fencing and cones
- Additional construction equipment in your neighborhood
- Construction workers and the vehicles they use to travel to their job
- Safety signage and sounds
- Dust
The City sends monthly program wide updates on active construction projects. You can also sign up by writing ose@nola.gov or by calling 504-658-7623.
What will the construction contractor do to minimize construction impacts?
Construction contractors will minimize construction impacts by keeping a clean work site, following parking regulations, maintaining safety signage and cones, managing traffic signage and notifying you in advance if your utilities, such as water, will be affected by construction.
Construction impacts will vary depending on the type of construction planned on your block. You should still expect to receive your mail and deliveries but you may need to take your garbage and recycling bins to the nearest corner.
In general, construction crews will be working from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Permission to work on weekends may be granted, if necessary. To be notified in advance of weekend work, please write ose@nola.gov or call 504-658-7623. You can also sign up for our program wide newsletter to receive monthly updates on active construction sites here.
What are the hours for construction? Will there be work on the weekends?
In general, construction crews will be working from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, although unforeseen impacts to the project schedule (e.g. weather) could require some work on the weekends. To be notified in advance of weekend work, please sign up for status updates by writing ose@nola.gov or calling 504-658-7623. You can also sign up for the Office of Strategic Engagement & Special Projects newsletter to receive monthly program-wide updates on active construction projects here.
Will there be road closures during the construction period?
Depending on the type of construction planned on your block, road closures or traffic re-routing may be necessary. Construction work may also call for you to park further away from your home than you do, typically. You may also experience limited access to your driveway at some time during construction. The City and / or contractor would provide noticing in advance of any road closure or traffic re-routing.
Have contracts been awarded?
The City issued a Request for Proposal for engineering design services in the summer of 2016. Fifty-four qualified engineering firms were selected to work on the City’s infrastructure projects. View a list of the engineering firms here.
Construction contracts will be posted on the City’s procurement website. Sign up to receive notices when construction contracts are available for bid here. View a list of the projects under construction here.
Who is responsible for designing all of the projects?
The City issued a Request for Qualifications for engineering design services in the summer of 2016. Fifty-four qualified engineering firms were selected to work on the City’s infrastructure projects. View a list of the engineering firms here.
Are local construction contractors doing the work?
In general, the City will award the construction contract to the qualified company that bids the lowest price to perform the work. The contractor may or may not be based locally; however, every City contract is required to meet the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise goal for the project. The DBE goal for each project is based on the availability of DBE firms to perform the work and will be advertised in the bid documents. Learn more about the City’s DBE program here.
How do I get a job working on a City construction project?
Visit HireNOLA website to complete a First Source Application for employment here. The HireNOLA staff work with jobseekers in our First Source database to connect them with new hire positions on various City projects. Our goal is to bring a quality local workforce together with our contractors. We strongly encourage that contractors utilize this process to find qualified candidates for their hiring consideration. If you have any questions, please contact 504-658-4500.
How can I stay informed about the construction project in my neighborhood?
The City will be sending out program wide updates on active construction projects. Sign up for the Office of Strategic Engagement & Special Projects newsletter. You can also sign up by writing ose@nola.gov or by calling 504-658-7623.
How can I bid on one of the construction projects?
Construction contracts will be posted on the City’s procurement website. Sign up to receive notices when construction contracts are available for bid here.
How will the City confirm the construction work is being done correctly?
In addition to having full-time onsite inspectors, representatives from the City meet with the project engineer and construction company bi-weekly to ensure the construction work is being performed as designed.
If you have a concern about work performed, please contact the Office of Strategic Engagement & Special Projects at ose@nola.gov or call 504-658-7623.
Not every portion of my damaged street is being repaired. How can the scope of work be changed to include additional repairs?
A number of factors played a role in determining the scope of work on any one block. In addition to the citywide Pavement Assessment, the City considered the availability of local and federal funding sources, the status of project designs, the current conditions of the underground water, sewer and drainage lines, and federal judgements such as the requirements of the Sewerage and Water Board’s Consent Decree to help determine the scope of planned infrastructure work. The scope of work is relatively fixed with the exception of minor constructability or Americans with Disabilities Act-compliance issues which may arise during construction.
There isn’t any work planned on my block at this time but my road is in terrible condition. How can I get my road fixed?
The results of the citywide Pavement Assessment confirmed that 65 percent of the City’s roadways are in poor or worse condition. Based on this information, it would take about $5B to repair all the roadways in the City that earn a “Fair” rating or worse. The Capital Improvement Program is a $2.3B program.
In the meantime, you can request a pothole crew to make a temporary repair by contacting 311. Simply dial 311 from your phone or call (504) 658-2299. The toll free number for 311 is (877) 286-6431.
Water or sewer leaks can be reported to the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans. You can do that by calling 52-WATER or by submitting a service request ticket online here. Sewerage and Water Board inspectors typically visit a site for inspection within two-hours of a request to assign it a repair priority.
I’m a contractor who responded to a public bid and would like to review the responses. From which department do I request the bid tabulation?
Bid tabs are posted outside the door of the Purchasing Department conference room which is located in Rm 4W07 of City Hall, 1300 Perdido St., New Orleans, LA 70112. The results can also be emailed to you by writing the appropriate buyer or by calling 504-658-1550.
I believe a construction contractor working for the City damaged my property. Who do I contact for assistance?
In general construction contractors attempt to minimize construction impacts. If you suspect your home or property was damaged by a City contractor, please contact RoadworkNOLA by e-mailing ose@nola.gov or call 504-658-7623. Typically, a construction contractor will take video of or photograph work area sites prior to construction so that they can determine if damage was caused during construction.
What should I do if a lead service from the water main to my residence or business is being replaced?
As part of the Capital Improvement Program, the SWB may be replacing lead service between the water main underneath the street and residential or business meters This could cause lead levels in your drinking water to increase temporarily (this could last several weeks to several months). When you are notified that a lead service from the water main to your residence or business will be replaced, you should complete the following steps:
- Run cold water at a high flow at all of your faucets for at least 5 minutes each, one at a time, starting with the faucet closest to your water meter, to remove any lead particles that may have gotten into your plumbing when we were working on your service line.
- After flushing your faucets, clean your faucets’ aerators. Lead particles can be trapped in aerators. Simply unscrew the aerator from the tip of the faucet, wash and replace it. We recommend continued flushing for at least a month before using the water for drinking and cooking after the repair has been completed.
- Consider having a Licensed Master Plumber inspect your service line from the meter to your home. If it is a lead line, we recommend that you have it replaced.
- Customers may also call our Water Quality Laboratory at 865-0420 to request to have your water tested for lead.
For more tips on reducing lead in drinking water visit www.swbno.org or the Environmental Protection Agency’s website at www.epa.gov/safewater/lead. For more information call 52-WATER (504-529-2837).
*** Private property owners are responsible for replacing any lead service lines between the property line and / or water meter and structure.