KENNER -
Kenner Public Works street crews spent much of Monday afternoon racing against the summer sun and near record high temperatures as concrete street slabs buckled in the intense heat and created hazards for unsuspecting motorists.
Temperatures at New Orleans International Airport hovered around 95 and 96 degrees most of Monday afternoon, and temperatures were predicted to go a couple of degrees higher on Tuesday. The record for June 23 is 96 degrees.
Crews cut down three buckled roadways on Monday and another on Sunday afternoon. Jerry Dillenkoffer, assistant directorr for public works, suggested that motorists be careful and drive slowly on concrete streets that have little or no shade, and to report buckled streets to authorities by calling 9-1-1. That way police can guard against motorists entering a hazardous street and repair crews can be dispatched to begin work to remove the hazard.
Generally, city crews will remove one side of a buckled street. The other buckled side will collapse flat and then the hole where the slab was removed is filled with limestone to allow safe passage of traffic.
Then, at a later date, the city's private street repair contractor will install a new concrete slab to fully repair the street. The buckled street location on Sunday was in the 2900 block of Palm Vista Drive. The locations handled Monday were at 39th Street & California Avenue, the 4000 block of W. Esplanade Avenue, and at 3701 W. Loyola Avenue.
Also, in related news, The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development has closed the left lane of I-55 southbound between Hammond and Independence to allow crews to repair portions of the pavement damaged by excessive heat.
Louisiana's recent bout with higher than normal temperatures has caused portions of the pavement to buckle. The lane closure will allow crews to repair the buckled portions of concrete and replace expansion joints in this area.
The left lane will be closed 24 hours per day until the repairs are complete. The right lane will remain open. The detour for traffic is U.S. 51. The closure is expected to last approximately one week.
DOTD regrets any inconvenience this work may cause and appreciates your patience.
Crews cut down three buckled roadways on Monday and another on Sunday afternoon. Jerry Dillenkoffer, assistant directorr for public works, suggested that motorists be careful and drive slowly on concrete streets that have little or no shade, and to report buckled streets to authorities by calling 9-1-1. That way police can guard against motorists entering a hazardous street and repair crews can be dispatched to begin work to remove the hazard.
Generally, city crews will remove one side of a buckled street. The other buckled side will collapse flat and then the hole where the slab was removed is filled with limestone to allow safe passage of traffic.
Then, at a later date, the city's private street repair contractor will install a new concrete slab to fully repair the street. The buckled street location on Sunday was in the 2900 block of Palm Vista Drive. The locations handled Monday were at 39th Street & California Avenue, the 4000 block of W. Esplanade Avenue, and at 3701 W. Loyola Avenue.
Also, in related news, The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development has closed the left lane of I-55 southbound between Hammond and Independence to allow crews to repair portions of the pavement damaged by excessive heat.
Louisiana's recent bout with higher than normal temperatures has caused portions of the pavement to buckle. The lane closure will allow crews to repair the buckled portions of concrete and replace expansion joints in this area.
The left lane will be closed 24 hours per day until the repairs are complete. The right lane will remain open. The detour for traffic is U.S. 51. The closure is expected to last approximately one week.
DOTD regrets any inconvenience this work may cause and appreciates your patience.
