ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH – Parish President Natalie Robottom, Administrative and Utilities staff and Council members joined Chris Masingill, Federal Co-Chairman of the Delta Regional Authority (DRA) for a groundbreaking ceremony for wastewater improvements along Airport Road in Reserve.  Also in attendance were Gerald Babin the design engineer with Professional Engineering Consultants (PEC), Dana Stumpf, CEO for Durr Heavy Construction, Martha Cazaubon with the South Central Planning and Development Commission, local business owners and elected officials.

The $448,000 wastewater improvement project includes a sewer lift station, force main and gravity system to serve businesses in the industrial park and the Airport. This project has been in the making for several years and is being completed with funding through two Delta Regional Authority grants totaling $290,000, with the remaining funds coming from the Waste Water Operating Fund.

“Investing in the public infrastructure of a community is a major aspect of the DRA’s mission because they are investments into the growth and health of a community’s bus nesses and economy,” said DRA Federal Co-Chairman Chris Masingill. “This project will help these local businesses save money, which the businesses can in turn invest in job creation and business expansion in St. John Parish.”

The construction contract for this project was awarded to Durr Heavy Construction of Hammond for installation of 2,645 linear feet of collection lines, manholes, a duplex pump station and 2,200 linear feet of force main to connect with the existing gravity system south of Airline Highway.  Construction is expected to begin March 30 and last 180 days.  Businesses along Airport Road were notified of the upcoming work and timeline and they will be updated throughout the process.

Although street closures are not anticipated at this time, driveways on Airport Road may be impacted for minimal periods of time during work. Once complete, wastewater services will be available to businesses on Airport Road, allowing them access to the public wastewater system in lieu of the individual treatment systems.  This project will be an improvement and savings to current businesses, while attracting new businesses to this industrial complex.

As the project progresses, communications will be provided to businesses in the area through the Parish’s Mass Notification System.  “We will ensure businesses continue to have access to their worksites during construction as we plan to complete the project with the least amount of disturbance as possible,” said Philip Patteson, Project manager.  For questions or concerns, the company can be contacted at 504.402.7418.

“Providing quality infrastructure is a key factor in supporting business growth and retention. The St. John Airport Road Sewer Project is a prime example of what can be accomplished when we work together to improve our communities,” said Doyle Robinson, Governor Bobby Jindal’s designee to the DRA Board. Parish President Robottom thanked DRA, both federal and state representatives for their partnership, and expressed her excitement to see the project come to fruition. “Airport Road is an important business corridor and these much needed improvements will remove the burden of maintaining a waste water system from local business owners,” she said. “This project, as well as many others, is a testament to my staff’s active pursuit and use of grant funding to complete critical projects.”

Link to St. John The Baptist’s website.

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