Project Status: Fall 2026
The City of New Orleans, in partnership with Mott MacDonald, aims to create safe and accessible connections for residents with the Connecting New Orleans East project. As a community-centered effort focused on addressing obvious deficiencies along the I-10 Service Roads, the project is guided directly by local input. From January to July, the project team has conducted a series of stakeholder meetings, in-person outreach opportunities, and two public meetings for the Connecting New Orleans East project. Usage data and community input will determine how Service Road improvements can be phased throughout the corridor. Project improvements include shared-use trails, bus stop enhancements, lighting, pedestrian signals, upgraded crosswalks, and strengthened connections along and across the I-10 Service Roads from Dwyer Road to Vincent Canal.
In late Spring 2026 the project moved into a preliminary design phase. Preliminary design is expected to conclude in December 2026. The City is actively seeking to secure funding for final design and construction.
Connecting New Orleans East Fact Sheet
FAQ: Connecting New Orleans East
Project Updates
Stay Informed: Project Documents
Results from the Community Survey and Walking Audit can be found below.
Public Meetings
Public Meeting #1 for the DPW780 Connecting New Orleans East project was successfully held on March 26, 2026. See what we learned below.
Public Meeting #2 for the DPW780 Connecting New Orleans East project was successfully held on July 1, 2026. See what we learned below.
City Council Presentation | Transportation Committee
To view the presentation click here.
Project Background
A 2022 study by the New Orleans Regional Planning Commission found that 6% of the city's fatal pedestrian crashes happen on I-10 Service Roads in New Orleans East. The study recommended infrastructure improvements to create safe places to walk and ride bikes along the roadways. To view the full report, click here.
Using this study, the City of New Orleans secured federal funding for the preliminary design of Connecting New Orleans East Project (DPW780) in March 2024. The intent of this Project is to remove connection barriers and improve the safety of the I-10 Service Roads in New Orleans East. Funding for this initial phase of the project is made possible through a grant from the Federal Highways Administration (FHWA), Neighborhood Access and Equity (NAE) program. The City must secure additional funding to finalize the design and construct the project.
Project Goals:
- Adding lighting and landscaping along the I-10 Service Roads and major intersections
- Creating new opportunities for health and fitness
- Connecting residents of all ages and abilities to destinations such as schools, parks, commercial areas, and institutional buildings.
- Increasing traffic safety for the 64,000 people who use or live near the I-10 Service Roads
- Linking the I-10 corridor to existing and future trails and greenspaces
- Generating new infrastructure job opportunities
Questions:
- If you have any questions about the project, please contact Andrew Logan at 504-905-1561 or email at connectingNOE@nola.gov
- For media inquiries, contact our Communications Department at 504-658-4945 or us email at communications@nola.gov
- For translated meeting materials please email andrew.logan@nola.gov or connectingNOE@nola.gov