Hard Rock Construction Delivers Infrastructure Success with HP Pipe from ADS in Metairie
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Jefferson Parish’s Elmwood Parkway Drainage Project, which broke ground in 2025, reflects a practical approach to solving longstanding drainage issues in a low-lying part of Metairie. To carry out the work, parish officials selected Hard Rock Construction, a contractor with deep experience in complex civil infrastructure throughout South Louisiana.
The main objective: increase drainage capacity along Elmwood Parkway and tie stormwater flows into the outfall canal on West Esplanade Avenue, which serves as a critical link in the parish’s drainage network.
Hard Rock Construction, led on this project by veteran project manager Rollin Smith, was awarded the job through the public bid process. Project scope included installing a new water main, upgrading and expanding the drainage system with new manholes and junction boxes, and extending improvements onto Hastings Street to ensure efficient water movement from adjacent neighborhoods.
“This is right in our wheelhouse,” said Smith, who has been with Hard Rock Construction for nine years and regularly oversees large-scale utility and drainage work across South Louisiana. “I feel that Hard Rock excels on projects like this because we understand the logistics, the technical demands, and we know how much reliable drainage matters to the people who live and work here.”
One of the project’s pivotal engineering decisions came when Smith and his team consulted with QSM’s Jonathan Wilhite about using HP pipe manufactured by ADS.
Original plans specified reinforced concrete pipe (RCP), but the parish and DOTD already had approved HP pipe as an alternative. The switch brought immediate advantages: HP pipe’s lighter weight and 20-foot lengths meant faster installation with fewer joints, improving safety and production while reducing the need for extensive stone bedding. Hard Rock was able to pass these savings directly to the parish, because the lighter weight pipe reduced bedding requirements. This cost savings was achieved without sacrificing durability or performance.
“The handling of the HP pipe makes a real difference in the field,” Smith explained. “It’s easier on our crews, allows us to be more efficient, and helps keep projects like this on schedule. We’ve worked with Jonathan and QSM on several jobs, and they know how to deliver the right product for the job, on time, every time.”
QSM’s role as a supplier and technical partner was key to the project’s success. By working closely with Hard Rock Construction throughout the process — from value engineering to delivery — QSM ensured that the parish received a cost-effective, reliable solution that will serve residents for decades.
As Jefferson Parish continues to invest in drainage and infrastructure upgrades, the Elmwood Parkway Drainage Project serves a model of what’s possible when expertise, innovation, and collaboration come together to solve real-world challenges.
Hard Rock Construction has been operating in the Louisiana area since 1989 and has become a go-to contractor for the City of New Orleans. We’ve successfully completed hundreds of projects that have increase the quality of life for our local communities. Our company specializes in General Contracting services including concrete paving, utilities, and disaster recovery.
QSM is a leading provider of innovative and cost-effective infrastructure solutions for the civil construction, environmental, and public works industries. As a manufacturers’ representative and distributor, QSM serves contractors, engineers, and municipalities across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, delivering site solutions and equipment for projects ranging from stormwater management and drainage to water and wastewater processing.
QSM is proud to provide professional consultation, strong sales support, and a commitment to delivering effective products that solve civil engineering challenges, helping clients complete projects efficiently and to the highest standards. Call QSM for your site solutions needs on your next project.