New Orleans, La. -
The largest street repair project in the French Quarter in almost three decades kicks off next week.
It's called the "Path to Progress" initiative, a federal city and state venture that will tackle 14 street segments in the Quarter, wrapping up in time for the Super Bowl.
"Supposedly they're going to do it like Magazine Street, a little bit at a time," said buggy driver Willy Picket, who gives tours.
Royal, Dauphine, and Burgundy Streets will all be resurfaced from Canal St. to Esplanade Ave.
Other segments to be repaired include parts of Toulouse, Decatur, and St. Louis. All work is set to be finished by Christmas.
Councilwoman Kristen Palmer says this kind of infrastructure improvement hasn't been done in the neighborhood since the World's Fair in the 1984.
"We have to remember we have nine million tourists a year come through the neighborhood, and that creates an extraordinary amount of pressure and pounding on our streets and pavements," said Palmer.
"We're not calling it a groundbreaking for nothing," said Deputy Mayor Cedric Grant. "We're going to break up a lot of ground in a very intense area in a very short time."
City and state officials turned dirt in a ceremony at Esplanade and North Peters. The first project will begin there next week.
One clothing store owner was perfectly content with the coming improvements.
"I know it may be a little messy but some people prefer to walk around without cars interfering," said Dave Rabalais of Rab Dab.
The $11.3 million improvement project is being paid for by mostly federal funds. $3 million is matched by the city. Sidewalks are included in the repairs.
