A way out

Atypical TIMED project helps residents take the high road

By Sam Barnes

The extension of West Napoleon Avenue is one of the more atypical components of the state's Transportation Infrastructure Model for Economic Development.

While much of the TIMED program focuses on four-laning major north-south corridors in the state, this particular project strives to create a vital hurricane evacuation route for New Orleans.

The $11.8 million project is the only active TIMED project in the Crescent City area and connects to existing Napoleon Avenue to the east. The concrete road is being built in conjunction with a new paved canal that should significantly improve drainage for the area.

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Bill Moulton, project manager with Boh Bros. Construction Co. LLC of New Orleans, said the project will be completed a full year ahead of schedule, with the new road towering as much as 2 ft. above the surrounding neighborhoods in some locations.

"There could be no funding from the federal government unless the road was at elevation 17," Moulton said. "At that elevation, the road could be used as an evacuation route. The side streets are about elevation 15."

Still, the roadbed will not be any higher than the banks of the existing canal.

"We brought in a lot of offsite fill to add width for the road bed, but we didn't raise it that much," Moulton said. "We actually had to dig out some of the bank to put the new sand in."

Jefferson Parish engineer Mark Drewes said the new lanes of Napoleon Avenue would provide additional flood protection by widening the protective berm around the canal.

"The road is made of limestone and concrete with two 12-ft. driving lanes in each direction," Drewes added. "U-turn lanes are being built at two locations across the canal."

In areas where the new roadway comes too close to pedestrian paths or residential properties, a Boh Bros. crew forms and pours concrete retaining walls.

"We've done one of these so far, but there could be more to come," Moulton said. "The parish decides where they want them."

"In a couple of locations the right of way is tight and there are homes in the area," he added, "so in a couple of spots we built right up against the curb and put in a retaining wall and a drop inlet."

Other work requires the placement of about 7,700 ft. of reinforced concrete pipe and the construction of more than 150 catch basins. The pipe will run beneath the new lanes of Napoleon Avenue and connect to the parish's existing drainage system.

"We went back about 60 ft. from the intersections, built new catch basins and tied into existing drain lines," Moulton said. "Basically, there is a pipe leading out of the catch basin to a collection box, and out of that one pipe goes to the pump station and one pipe goes to the canal."

More than 200 ft. of 72-in.-diameter pipe is being installed where neighborhood streets intersect West Napoleon. All of the RCP pipe is being supplied by Hanson Concrete Pipe of Baton Rouge.

Other pipe is made of PVC and ties the concrete drain lines to manholes in the street.

Moulton said the summer completion date would be achieved barring a significant weather event, crediting the project's impressive progress to a dose of good weather and "doing everything every day.

"It comes down to the method of construction that we use," he added. The key, Moulton said, is keeping the entire crew busy all day, every day.

Other sections of the West Napoleon Avenue improvement project include:

• Cleary Avenue to Houma Boulevard by Barriere Construction Co. LLC of New Orleans
  
  
• Williams Boulevard to Roosevelt Boulevard by Gilmore & Son Construction Corp. of Hammond
  
  
• Roosevelt Boulevard to David Drive by Boh Bros. Construction
  

"What was envisioned in the original program stretches from Williams Boulevard to Severn, so that will be completed once these projects are completed," Drewes said.

"There are other projects that will be completed to accommodate the expected increase in traffic flow. Those are being funded by the parish."

Useful Resources:

For updates on the progress of the West Napoleon Boulevard construction, go to: http://www.dotd.state.la.us/construction/orleans.html#JEFFERSON