NEW ORLEANS -- Drivers going both ways have to use the south-bound lanes of Fleur De Lis these days, and share the road with heavy construction equipment.
That is because the lake-bound lanes are being totally rebuilt, starting at Veterans Highway.
"It's such a pleasure to finally, finally -- if I didn't use that word three more times," said a smiling Lynn Dupont of the Regional Planning Commission. "It is so nice to see this extremely important community project of regional significance get started."
Residents and business owners have waited for years for this project.
"I opened this corner 21 years ago, and it was bad then," said Ray Bergeron at Fleur De Lis Car Care. "Peggy Wilson, if you remember her, she said Ray, we're going to have to redo Fleur De Lis Boulevard. 21 years later, wow, there is a God."
Last year residents begged for Action Reports to get city officials to keep the deteriorating road passable until the construction project started.
The $12 million project, paid for with federal and Sewerage & Water Board funds, will totally rebuild the street and driveways, and make sidewalks wheelchair accessible, plus coordinate replacement of sewer, water and drainage pipes under the surface.
"I had friends visiting from overseas this week, and they said, do you realize this is a war zone," said Rose Vines last September.
"We're doing a very good job of working together on all of these projects," said Joe Becker of the Sewerage & Water Board. "It represents a significant savings for the Water Board."
Residents may find an unexpected benefit.
"In addition to a smooth street that provides easy access, we should see water pressure in Lakeview get better, because there's so many leaks underground," said District A Councilwoman Shelly Midura.
But this is the second phase of a three phase project to repair Fleur De Lis. This phase ends at 30th Street. Residents past that point have been waiting to find out when Phase Three will start.
"Some federal dollars are paying for it, so right now they are programmed to come in at the end of this year," said city Public Works Director Robert Mendoza, "which basically means we should be bidding it in the first quarter of next year, and that would put construction in the summer of 2011."
Ray Bergeron's car care center is losing business during the construction, but he is looking at the future.
"Property values will increase. It will encourage neighbors to return to West Lakeview. Best thing that could ever happen," he said.
