Some New Orleans East residents are urging city officials to address a growing hole and an uncovered catch basin on Scottwood Drive.
Dionne Williams, a longtime resident, said the hole in the street is getting bigger.
“Yeah, it wasn’t that large. The hole, though not wide, is deep and has become filled with plexiglass and debris. It wasn’t that deep before,” said Williams.
Steel rebar is barely hanging on, and trash is filling the hole, making the yellow delineator invisible from the roadway.
Neighbors have resorted to using their own tools and cones to keep drivers safe.
The hole’s location, combined with tight street parking, poses a nuisance, and the weight of vehicles constantly driving around it could exacerbate the issue.
“They’re speeding and don’t know it’s there, and if there’s no car there, they have to go that way and they hit it,” said Williams.
In addition to the hole, residents are concerned about a catch basin with no cover, both seemingly simple problems they want fixed.
“No, I haven’t seen anyone doing work. I only remember when they were at each drain working, but that was a year ago. I haven’t seen anyone working on the hole,” said Williams.
Steve Nelson, director of the Department of Public Works, stressed that it is important to address small maintenance issues early to prevent bigger and more costly problems later.
He said that the Smooth Streets Initiative aims to create smoother roads, safer sidewalks, and save taxpayers money over time.
READ MORE:Small hole in street causes big problem for some New Orleans East residents
