Drainage Infrastructure: Jefferson & Orleans Updates
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There’s been no lull in drainage infrastructure projects this summer in metro New Orleans.
Drive across the area, and you’ll see drainage infrastructure projects in-the-works from Lafitte to Lake Pontchartrain. QSM provides civil site prep solutions to engineering projects across the state, the list below highlights some of those projects underway this summer.
Hurricane Isaac Recovery Drainage Improvements (Lafitte)
QSM provided more than 9,000 liner feet of concrete drainage pipe to Wallace C. Drennan, LLC for a drainage infrastructure project on the west bank of Jefferson Parish in the town of Lafitte. Stormwater and storm surge flooding are a recurring problem in this low lying part of the parish. As such, drainage infrastructure improvements were designed to deliver immediate benefits to residents in the area.
And today, … crews can be seen working both sides of the road on Jean Lafitte Blvd.
All told, QSM sent more than 9,000 linear feet of pipe — round concrete pipe and concrete arch pipe. The design also called for more than 160 pre-cast catch basins and grates, two slot gates (built by Waterman Industries), manhole covers, and geotextile fabric plus pipe wrap.
Hagan-Lafitte Drainage Infrastructure Upgrades & Green Infrastructure Project
The City of New Orleans secured funding from FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) to implement a series of drainage upgrade and green infrastructure projects across the city with a goal to reduce flooding.
One of the projects, in construction, is located in the Hagan-Lafitte corridor (just south) of Bayou St. John.
In this case — the project is using a mix of “gray” and “green” drainage infrastructure.
Located between the Lafitte Greenway and Orleans Avenue, the 33-acre site is comprised of one neighborhood park and 23-blocks of residential and commercial properties — where today, Command Construction is working to install components of a multi-faceted drainage system.
One focal point of the project — a large stormwater detention system — will be buried underground at Easton Park. The detention system was placed under the park, where it will serve to collect stormwater rather than allowing runoff to flow rapidly and inundate the city’s stormwater system.
This area, along with many others in the city have seen an increase of strong cluster storm cells in the past few years, and meteorologists say these sorts of rain events are the new normal. As such, addressing these problems is a smart approach.
Furthermore, this project is part of the City of New Orleans’ Resilience and Sustainability program. There are eight major projects slated for construction under the program.
Project goals are:
• reduce stormwater runoff
• reduce subsidence
• neighborhood beautification
• economic development
• improvements to recreation and health
• raise awareness of environmental conditions
• increase use of green infrastructure
To learn more, visit the city’s website.
TrueGrid® Permeable Pavers: Two Recent projects in New Orleans
QSM provided TrueGrid® permeable paving systems on two recently completed projects in uptown New Orleans. The first project (at Cherokee Street near Leake Ave. and the Mississippi River) is a first-of-it’s-kind-approach for the city of New Orleans.
Here, TrueGrid was used to replace impervious paving where it previously had been used for on-street parking.
And now? This stretch of road serves as a model of innovative parking infrastructure which could be deployed elsewhere throughout the city.
New sub-surface drainage lines were installed, damaged sewer lines repaired, portions of the asphalt street were repaved, rain gardens installed, and TrueGrid permeable parking was added as parking lanes to reduce subsidence and to detain storm water.
The project was designed by Professional Engineering Consultants Corp. and built by Fleming Construction Co.
Lanco Construction and JP & Sons also completed a retail construction project on the latest Starbucks in New Orleans.
It is located on Claiborne Ave. at the corner of Washington Ave. The aesthetics and site functionality of this modern design were augmented by the addition of TrueGrid as part of the parking surface.
In this case, TrueGrid was used for the parking spaces along side of the building — on a street corner which was known for flooding in even minor storms — this stormwater management solution will reduce runoff, and it will retain water on-site before slowing releasing it back into the ground. An ideal use of a small space.
TrueGrid permeable paving is one of QSM’s innovative stormwater management solutions. Learn more about the product, and installation elsewhere on our website at — TrueGrid® permeable paving.
QSM represents TrueGrid® in Louisiana. Call to place an order on your next project — TrueGrid® is an ideal solution for parking lots, driveways, walkways, and alleys. Rated for heavy duty use up to fire alleys, it also is a good fit for small scale or large scale commercial projects, as well as community gardens, and residential projects.
Shown below: The parking spaces on the side of this Starbucks use TrueGrid permeable paving.
