News & Announcements

September 22, 2025 | From City of New Orleans

Mobility & Safety Updates — Oct. 2025

The Department of Public Works (DPW) is committed to making New Orleans’ streets safer, more accessible, and better connected for all users—whether walking, biking, driving, or taking transit. Explore the latest projects and initiatives that support the City’s Complete Streets goals and improve mobility across neighborhoods.

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Mobility & Safety Updates — Oct. 2025

Mobility and Safety Team Rides with ORS for Bike to Work Day 

As part of A Week Without Driving, the Department of Public Works (DPW), Mobility and Safety Team partnered with the Office of Resilience and Sustainability (ORS) to host a Bike to Work Day event that brought attention to the many benefits of biking and other active ways to travel. 

  • Team members gathered along the Lafitte Greenway and rode together to City Hall, showing how biking can bring people together, improve health, and protect the environment. 
  • The event highlighted the City’s commitment to making it easier and safer for everyone to get around, whether by bike, bus, car, or on foot. 
  • By investing in better streets, safer crossings, and more bike and transit options, the City of New Orleans is helping create a connected, healthy, and sustainable community. 

Andrew Higgins Drive Redesign Moves Forward 

The City of New Orleans Department of Public Works is moving ahead with plans to redesign the Andrew Higgins Drive corridor in the Warehouse District, transforming it into a safer, more accessible, and vibrant street for everyone.  Stretching a half mile between the National WWII Museum and the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, the project focuses on narrowing travel lanes, improving sidewalks, and enhancing the public realm with new amenities.  

Key project features include: 

  • Narrower travel lanes: Reduced from 15 feet to 11 feet to help calm traffic and enhance safety for all users. 
  • Improved sidewalks: Brick paving, curb extensions, benches, lighting, and landscaping to create a more walkable environment. 
  • Safer crossings: Expanded sidewalk bump-outs at intersections—especially at Tchoupitoulas Street—to increase pedestrian visibility. 
  • Green infrastructure: New trees, shrubs, and groundcover to bring shade, color, and environmental benefits to the corridor. 

Minimal traffic disruptions are expected during construction, and the narrower lane design is anticipated to reduce speeding and discourage heavy truck use. 

This redesign builds on the City’s commitment to complete streets and multimodal access, ensuring Andrew Higgins Drive continues to serve as a vital connector in the heart of the Warehouse District. 

Connecting New Orleans East – Next Steps in Design and Engagement  

The Connecting New Orleans East Project is moving forward with plans to create a safe, connected trail network that links neighborhoods, schools, parks, and businesses along the I-10 Service Roads between Dwyer Road and I-510. Once complete, this network will make it easier for residents to walk, bike, and access destinations across New Orleans East. 

Earlier this year, changes to federal funding through the Neighborhood Access and Equity (NAE) program reduced available resources for the project. As of July 4, 2025, those funds are limited to the preliminary design phase. Despite this change, the City of New Orleans, together with its consultant Mott MacDonald and community partners, remains committed to keeping the project moving. The team is working to make the most of existing funds while actively pursuing additional city, state, and federal funding to bring the project to construction. 

Proposed design features include: 

  • Shared-use trails along the I-10 Service Roads (Dwyer Rd to I-510) 
  • Trail connections at Crowder Boulevard and Bullard Avenue 
  • Pedestrian bridges near Mayo, Bundy, and Wright Roads 
  • Lighting, trees, and landscaping along the trail 
  • ADA-compliant curb ramps and upgraded pedestrian signals at key intersections 

 
The project team will continue working with community members and local stakeholders to refine the design and gather feedback at upcoming meetings. 

For updates and additional information, visit the project page here.   

Broad Street Pedestrian Improvements Near Completion  

The Broad Street Pedestrian Improvements Project is entering its final phase, marking a major step forward in improving pedestrian safety and connectivity along the Broad Street corridor.  

Crews from Hard Rock Construction have completed new striping along Broad Street between Tulane Avenue and the Lafitte Greenway. The final stage includes activation of the pedestrian hybrid beacon at the Greenway crossing, which will enhance safety for people walking and biking in this busy area.  

The DPW Mobility and Safety Team is coordinating with community partners to plan a ribbon-cutting celebration upon completion.  

For more information, please visit the project page here.