LAPLACE — All paving work associated with St. John the Baptist Parish’s 2018 Road Improvement Program is complete and all punch list items have been satisfied, according to Parish Government.

This year, 15 roads throughout the Parish were rehabilitated with asphalt and the 2019 list is being compiled. Funding is allocated each year for road repairs. Roads not completed in 2018 will be added to the 2019 or 2020 lists.

“This is one of the most successful programs of my Administration, as roads in older areas of the Parish that had not been touched since they were constructed have been repaired,” Parish President Natalie Robottom said. “This investment does not include concrete work, state projects or bridge repairs, which are also being improved throughout the community.”

LaPlace streets repaired in 2018 include West 3rd Street, Landeche Lane and Ash Street. Reserve streets include East 23rd, East 26th, Melius Street, Perrilloux Drive, Sweet Lorraine and Farlough Drive.

Stout Street and Roccaforte Avenue were repaired in Garyville, all of East 6th Street in Edgard, and parts of Rue St. John, Rue St. James and Des Allemands Boulevard were repaired in Pleasure Bend.

Asphalt contracts are awarded to the lowest bidder, and this year the contract was awarded to Coastal Bridge Company, with design and construction management through C.J. Savoie Consulting Engineers.

Robottom said her administration has invested more than $15 million in the Parish’s Road Improvement Program, with more than 100 roads being repaired since 2010.

Rather than relying solely on state projects and grants to complete road projects, Robottom said her annual budget includes an allocation for road maintenance. This allocation was often supplemented with bond funding and grants to get the biggest bang for the available bucks.

This year, approximately $840,000 of Parish funds went toward road repairs, $771,000 of which was for construction and $69,000 for design and construction management. This does not included the millions of dollars in state and federal funding used to repair West 10th Street, Belle Terre Boulevard, Airline Highway, Hemlock Street and River Road on the East and West banks of the Parish.

With input from Administrative staff, Council members and residents, road repairs are prioritized by condition, usage and available funds.

— Information provided by St. John Communications.