NEW ORLEANS — Today, Mayor Helena Moreno announced two major initiatives to begin expediting street repairs in New Orleans. First, the Mayor directed the Department of Public Works (DPW) to start lessening dependence on contractors and begin handling more minor sidewalk and street repairs in-house by DPW crews. Second, she has launched the Infrastructure Coordinating Council to help expedite major street infrastructure projects similar to the group formed during the Super Bowl to ensure that there’s coordination, collaboration, and urgency to complete projects.
The Mayor made the announcement today during the City’s first concrete pour by Department of Public Works employees since Hurricane Katrina. Until now, contractors had been handling all concrete pours, which is a much more costly and less efficient approach.
The work was completed this week along a sidewalk in the 1800 block of Governor Nicholls Street, eliminating a long-standing safety hazard that has impacted neighbors since at least 2021. This demonstrates the type of work that over time will more and more be handled in-house, ultimately leading to savings since contractor repair costs are vastly more expensive.
Mayor Moreno, was joined at this site by Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Infrastructure Stephen Nelson, and GNO, Inc. CEO Michael Hecht to announce that she has tapped Hecht as a volunteer adviser to the new Infrastructure Coordinating Council (ICC) since Hecht chaired the committee tasked with preparations for last year’s Super Bowl. The ICC will focus on large street infrastructure projects such as FEMA-funded JIRR projects. Participants in the ICC include outside agencies like the Sewerage and Water Board and other utilities.
“I promised to enhance routine street maintenance and also provide Super Bowl-level coordination for infrastructure repairs,” said Mayor Helena Moreno. “I’m getting started now on these efforts because we’ve waited long enough for better streets. The transformation of our streets won’t happen overnight, but today we begin to strategically chip away at this pervasive problem by busting up our cars all over town.”
“I am thrilled to work with Mayor Moreno to help deliver “Super Bowl-level services” for the entire city. From my recent experience, I know that this vision is achievable. I am honored to help create a better city for everyone,” said Hecht.
“This is exactly what a results-driven infrastructure approach looks like,” Nelson said. “We identified a known problem, coordinated across departments, and delivered a permanent solution. This administration is moving from talk to action.”
“I’m very proud to have the first in-house concrete pour done by DPW right here in District C,” said Councilmember Freddie King. “Hats off to Mayor Moreno for bringing together leaders with deep experience in coordination and street services. By working together—with the administration and with residents—I believe we will deliver street repairs faster and more cost-effectively than ever before, and I’m proud to be a part of that effort,” King continued.
The concrete repairs will make a meaningful difference for the congregation and surrounding neighbors. Pastor Keith Mackey of Christian Light Missionary Baptist Church praised Mayor Moreno’s visit, by saying, “This was top-flight. From the time she was campaigning to now, I’ve seen real changes. You can tell things are moving in a different direction.”
This repair typifies the operational urgency in which the Moreno Administration operates. Since taking office, the Moreno administration has directed departments to accelerate repairs, remove bottlenecks, and focus resources on projects that have lingered for years without resolution. This past Tuesday in New Orleans East, Moreno launched the “Lights On” initiative to begin urgently repairing lights throughout the city in areas that could receive a significant public safety boost with increased lighting. “Lights On” heads to Central City next.