News and Updates

December 29, 2016

City of New Orleans Announces Details of New Year Holiday Public Safety Plan and Traffic Reminders

by Laura A. Mellem, Deputy Director
Filed under: public safety

Today, the City of New Orleans issued the details of the New Year Holiday Public Safety Plan and traffic reminders in advance of Allstate Sugar Bowl events and the 2017 New Year’s Eve Celebration.

For months the Landrieu administration has been working on ways to increase security and protect citizens from large, terrorist-like attacks. Beginning with New Year’s Eve and Sugar Bowl preparedness, the City will increase security measures throughout the French Quarter and other sensitive targets in the City.

New Security Measures

  • Additional light towers;
  • Temporary security cameras;
  • Law enforcement sky towers;
  • A full complement of the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) and Louisiana State Police personnel;
  • K9 units; and
  • Special operations personnel guarding Bourbon St. and other areas of interest.

Throughout these events, the public is encouraged to be patient and prepared for delays by making transportation arrangements accordingly. Motorists should be prepared for heavy pedestrian and vehicular traffic as security measures are being increased.

Starting on Friday, Dec. 30

From Friday, Dec. 30 through Monday, Jan. 2, extra NOPD officers will be deployed to the French Quarter and the Central Business District beginning at 3 p.m. daily with additional officers coming on throughout the evenings. Officers will be conducting traffic control, walking beat patrol, and enhanced security and surveillance throughout the entire area.

On Friday, traffic restrictions for the French Quarter will be implemented starting at 8 p.m. or when pedestrian traffic necessitates closures to ensure safety.

  • Entry to the French Quarter from Canal St., Decatur St., Esplanade Ave. and Rampart St. will be via controlled access only. Taxis, limos and those vehicles needing to access businesses in the French Quarter will be able to cross Bourbon St., but Bourbon St. will be a pedestrian mall.
  • Large trucks, busses and vans may be made to detour out of the area and only access the French Quarter on exterior streets. Exterior streets are all streets leading into the French Quarter on Canal, Decatur, N. Rampart and Dumaine Streets.

From Saturday, Dec. 31

Beginning Saturday, Dec. 31 and ending Tuesday, Jan. 3, the 100 to 800 blocks of Bourbon St. will be closed to vehicular traffic from 5 p.m.–4 a.m. each day.

French Quarter exterior and interior street closures will be enhanced for this weekend’s events. Interior and exterior French Quarter street closures will be effective nightly from approximately 8 p.m.–4 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 31 through Monday, Jan. 2. Interior streets are all streets leading to Bourbon St. on Royal and Dauphine Streets from Canal to Dumaine Streets.

On Saturday, Dec. 31, the Allstate Sugar Bowl Fan Fest, located at Jackson Square and the Jax Brewery parking lot off Decatur St., will begin at noon and last through Sunday Jan. 1. At 2 p.m. Saturday, the Allstate Sugar Bowl Parade will begin at Elysian Fields Ave. and Decatur St., proceed down Decatur St., past Jackson Square and the Allstate Fan Fest, disbanding at Canal St. Street closures will start at approximately 2 p.m. and will include N. Peters St. from Canal to Conti Streets and from Dumaine St. to Elysian Fields Ave, and Decatur St. from Conti to Dumaine Streets.

On Saturday, Dec. 31, NOPD officers will be monitoring the pedestrian crowd and will divert vehicular traffic from Decatur St. / S. Peters St., between Canal St. and Esplanade Ave., as needed based on pedestrian traffic. NOPD anticipates a large pedestrian crowd and encourages drivers to avoid this area.

Starting on Sunday, Jan. 1

From Sunday, Jan. 1 to Tuesday, Jan. 3, there will be traffic and parking restrictions in the French Quarter.

  • From 6 p.m.–6 a.m., there will be no parking on Canal St. from Convention Center Blvd. to N. Villere St.
  • From noon–6 a.m. each day, there will be no parking in the French Quarter from Canal St. to St. Ann St. between Dauphine St. and Royal St.
  • Between 5 p.m. and 4 a.m. each day, entry to the French Quarter will be controlled from Canal St., Decatur St., Esplanade Ave. and Rampart St.
  • Vehicles will not be able to cross Bourbon St. and will be detoured at all points along Dauphine and Royal Streets. Large trucks, busses, and vans may be made to detour out of the area completely.
  • Motorists should be prepared for heavy pedestrian and vehicular traffic as security measures are being increased.

Starting on Monday, Jan. 2
On Monday, Jan. 2, for the Allstate Sugar Bowl, NOPD officers will be monitoring pedestrian crowds in the French Quarter and will divert vehicular traffic if necessary. NOPD will regulate traffic around the Mercedes-Benz Superdome starting approximately one hour before the start of the 7:30 p.m. game. Parking enforcement personnel will be monitoring for illegal parking, including blocking hydrants, driveways and sidewalks, or parking within 20 ft. of a crosswalk, intersection or stop signs. Motorists are also reminded to park in the direction of travel on one-way streets and with the right wheel to the curb on two-way streets.

In addition, RTA services including bus service may be interrupted during these event. Details on any route changes are available at www.norta.com.