NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, with its partners at the City of New Orleans and the Department of Transportation and Development, will re-open Downman Road north of Hayne Boulevard to all traffic on December 22. The section was closed last summer to accommodate the initial construction phase of a floodgate. Drivers are advised to maintain caution through this area as construction will continue until June 2011.
The Corps will close the eastbound off-ramp from the Senator Ted Hickey Bridge to Hayne Boulevard during the first week of January 2011 for six months to ensure public safety during construction of a new floodwall. Eastbound traffic on Leon C. Simon Drive and Stars and Stripes Boulevard attempting to access Hayne Boulevard will be able to do so by turning right on Downman Road, which intersects with Hayne Boulevard (shown on Map 1).
The westbound lanes on Hayne Boulevard between Curtis Drive and Downman Road will also close during the first week of January 2011 to accommodate construction of a new floodwall. Westbound traffic between Redfish Street and Curtis Drive will be reduced to one lane. The westbound lanes will close west of Curtis Drive and the eastbound lanes will open to two-way traffic (illustrated in Map 2). The westbound lanes will re-open in June 2011.
The Corps and its contractors will continue to work diligently to ensure that the Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System is operational by June 2011. Questions and / or concerns related to road closures and construction impacts can be addressed on the Corps’ Construction Impacts Hotline: 877-427-0345.
Map 1
Map 2
Release no. 10-003