NEW ORLEANS, LA — Mayor LaToya Cantrell recently joined other officials and community leaders to break ground for the $4.7-million Village De L'est Group B road-improvement project — the second of three projects that will improve infrastructure in the New Orleans East neighborhood.

"There's so many things that fall under infrastructure, but at the heart of it is roads, streets and drainage, and that's what this project really speaks to," Cantrell said. "We're going to break this ground and make sure this community receives the improvements that are a long time coming. We've been focused on getting these resources and projects out the door and also hitting the ground, and this is an example of that."

The scope of the Village De L'est Group B work varies by block but includes repaving the asphalt roadway from curb to curb and repairing damaged sidewalks; removing damaged portions of the concrete roadway and replacing it with new smooth concrete pavement; and providing waterline replacements throughout the project (approximately $510,000).

There are three total projects in the Village De L’Est neighborhood worth approximately $20 million: Village De L’Est Groups A, B and C. Mayor Cantrell was joined by Ramsey Green, Deputy CAO for Infrastructure; Ghassan Korban, Executive Director, Sewerage and Water Board; State Rep. Joseph Bouie, Jr. (District 97); Ed Blouin, President, Village De L’est Improvement Association; and project contractors Beverly Construction, LLC, and AIMS Group, Inc. (designer/construction manager).

The city has completed eight projects in the program worth about $22 million. There are 10 projects under construction worth about $50 million. There is also about $25 million in projects kicking off in the next couple months.