By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – A pair of public works projects in St. John the Baptist Parish, one in LaPlace and one in Reserve, will begin Monday, according to parish officials.

Dana Millioto, a spokesperson for the parish, said crews will start work to repair portions of Greenwood Drive in LaPlace and continue work on an ongoing manhole rehabilitation project in Reserve starting Monday morning.

Millioto said the Greenwood Drive project consists of reconstruction and repair of the roadway between Carrollwood Drive and Ridgefield Drive. The parish replaced the Greenwood Drive Bridge near LaPlace Elementary last year but postponed work on the road until after the 2012 school year was complete to avoid interference with school traffic and school construction.

Millioto said Greenwood Drive will be closed intermittently during construction, but residents will have access to their homes for the duration of the project. She said residents will be notified prior to any closures limiting access to homes. She also said nearby Greenwood Park will be closed Monday and will remain closed throughout the duration of the project for safety reasons.  

All emergency personnel, including the fire department, police department, and emergency medical services, have been advised of the repair schedule, and each has developed alternate plans for emergency response. Mail service will be uninterrupted and the parish’s garbage contractor, IESI, is developing a plan for alternative garbage collection in this area.

The parish council recently approved a $262,300 contract with Byron E. Talbot Contractors of Robert for the roadwork project, which is expected to take 45 days to complete. The project is funded through the $29.5 million bond issue approved by voters in 2009.

“Completion of the Greenwood Drive Rehabilitation Project is the final phase of work that started last year with replacement of the Greenwood Bridge,” said Parish President Natalie Robottom. “We apologize in advance for the disruption and request your patience and cooperation as this project moves forward.”

Millioto said updates on the project would be released as the project moves forward. She said residents may contact the St. John Parish Capital Projects Office at 985-652-9569 with any questions or concerns while the project is underway.

Meanwhile in Reserve, the parish will begin phase II of an ongoing manhole rehabilitation project to reduce infiltration of rainwater into the parish’s sewer system.

Millioto said this phase of the project covers an area bounded by Airline Highway, River Road (Louisiana Highway 44), West 19th Street and East 15th Street in Reserve.

The project involves design and repair work to seal the surface area of about 60 to 75 manholes in Reserve. The work is part of a larger project that includes repairs to the waste water collection system in older areas of Reserve.

Millioto said BLD Services of Kenner is the contractor on the $147,700 project, which is funded through a low-interest loan from the state Department of Environmental Quality.

Homeowners should not be inconvenienced by the project, but residents will be notified should there be a change or a need to re-route traffic. The project should be completed in 90 days. Residents who may have questions or concerns can contact the St. John the Baptist Parish Utilities Department at 985-651-6800.