Press Releases

NEW ORLEANS, LA – Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans (SWBNO) issues an update on the ongoing replacement of 115-year-old transmission water mains in the French Quarter, providing residents and businesses with a current account of progress by block, upcoming milestones, and the factors that have affected the project’s timeline.

 BACKGROUND

The project involves the following improvements on infrastructure that is more than a century old and poses significant risk of failure if left unaddressed:

• Full replacement of 1,600 ft of 24-inch aging cast iron transmission mains
• Replacement or upgrade of 2,000 ft of drainage lines and associated catch basins
• Inspection, repair, or lining of 1,500 ft of sewer lines
• New water and sewer service connections in the affected blocks, including several fire service connections
• Upgrades of Entergy electric and Delta gas infrastructure in the same footprint to avoid future rework in this area

This work is funded through FEMA’s Joint Infrastructure Recovery Request Program. The former City administration was under a deadline to obligate approved federal funds. When current SWBNO leadership came on board, the project timeline and scope had already been established. SWBNO is fully committed to seeing it through to completion. Construction was originally anticipated to begin in early 2025; however, the start date was delayed to March 2025 to accommodate the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras. High Mississippi River water levels also resulted in a delay in construction pushing the start date into late July 2025.

TIMELINE

The French Quarter transmission main project was originally projected take one year to complete. We are working with the contractor to facilitate the remaining work on the project and will continue to provide updates on a weekly basis. While there have been unforeseen impacts that have affected the schedule, we have worked to address those challenges and continue making progress toward project completion.  

The discovery of historical artifacts required SWBNO to follow strict federally mandated archaeological review protocols, pausing work in affected areas for several weeks in late 2025 until reviews were complete. A recent second discovery required the same type of review.  Additionally, several weeks of near-freezing weather and heavy rain impacted some facets of construction. The project has also required coordination and limited work production around major city events including Mardi Gras 2026 and French Quarter Fest 2026. As well as coordination efforts with ongoing work by other utility partners upgrading their systems within the same corridor. Our team has worked to minimize the impact of these delays as much as possible.

SWBNO contractors operate within French Quarter ordinances governing construction hours and methods, which further shape the pace of daily progress. This project was projected to take a year to complete, and work has continued consistently within every boundary and restriction placed on the project.

“The replacement of 115-year-old transmission water mains on Decatur Street and St. Peter Street has encountered significant challenges. Our utility acknowledges the very real impact this project has had on French Quarter business owners, and we take that seriously. We are reviewing all options to complete this project as quickly as possible."

-Randy Hayman, Executive Director, Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans

CURRENT STATUS BY BLOCK

600 St. Peter Street

Concrete pavement on this block is complete. Remaining work includes sidewalk restoration and the adjustment of an Entergy vault and manhole, which is scheduled to begin today, June 16, weather permitting. Once that work is completed, SWBNO will pour the final two concrete panels.

Fencing on the 600 block of St. Peter Street is planned to come down by June 30th. Jersey barriers will be installed to shift pedestrian traffic to one side of the block while sidewalk restoration is completed. The block will remain accessible to pedestrians throughout this transition.

1100 Decatur Street

Concrete pavement has been completed up to Ursulines Avenue. The green mesh fencing has been removed, improving pedestrian access. Crews are currently placing temporary asphalt behind the curb to address safety concerns ahead of sidewalk restoration. Sidewalk restoration on the 1100 block is expected to begin within four weeks, weather permitting. The metal fencing will be taken down, and the block will be more open to pedestrian access until that sidewalk restoration phase begins.

1000 Decatur Street

Approximately half of the new concrete roadway has been poured. Crews have completed curb installation, and we anticipate that the next concrete pour will be scheduled within the next two weeks, weather permitting.

900 Decatur Street

Drain line work on the riverside has been completed. Crews are currently working on the lakeside drain line. A temporary water line is currently undergoing chlorination and bacteria testing. Once testing is complete, crews will cut and cap the existing main, tie in the temporary line, and proceed with waterline installation before moving on to the restoration phase. Approximately two additional months of construction are expected on this block.

LOOKING AHEAD

Portions of the project are on track for completion by the end of summer 2026. The remainder of the work is expected to wrap up by late fall 2026. SWBNO will continue to issue updates on progress as the project moves towards completion. Weekly updates are provided after the weekly progress meeting by email.  If you would like to be added to the email distribution list please contact Public Outreach at outreach@swbno.org.