Quick Facts

• The South Louisiana Submerged Roads Program is a road repair program to restore the south Louisiana roads that were damaged as a result of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. 
   
• The South Louisiana Submerged Roads Program began in July 2007 by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD). 
   
• The South Louisiana Submerged Roads Program is 100 percent funded by emergency federal funding from the Emergency Relief Program of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).
   
• Fifty-six streets in three parishes (Orleans, Jefferson and St. Bernard) are being repaired as part of the Program at an investment of $118 million.
   
• Phase A projects for the South Louisiana Submerged Roads Program were identified based on post Katrina and Rita visual and structural testing evaluation analysis. The Regional Transportation Planning Commission (RPC) worked with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to identify the selected streets to be repaired under this initial phase of the program. Future phases will be identified as federal funding becomes available.
   
• The Federal Highway Administration has approved streets to be restored back to their pre-Katrina status. This will be accomplished by milling off old pavement and placing back new pavement to a depth sufficient to meet the traffic demands on each roadway. The funds granted through this program are allocated for specific repairs. FHWA has explicit guidelines on how the money can be used toward street repairs. Coordination efforts with other agencies are currently underway to address funding for potential amenities to the design plans. 
   
• Traffic coordination efforts and planning is underway to minimize congestion and facilitate access in impacted areas where street repairs will be conducted. Every effort is being made to minimize the inconvenience to neighborhoods, motorists and local businesses.

For further information regarding the South Louisiana Submerged Roads Program, call the public outreach phone line at 1-800-574-7193. Interested residents and businesses can request to be added to the program mailing list to receive project information.