Construction to snarl downtown New Orleans traffic for weeks

The big picture: State and city leaders are racing to finish several big infrastructure projects before New Orleans hosts the Super Bowl in February 2025.

• The CCC is in the middle of a $21 million lighting project that has been snarling traffic for weeks. It's a joint project with the city and the state Department of Transportation and Development.
• The aim is to add programmable, multicolored LED lights to the bridge.

State of play: So far, the old system from 1987 has been removed and half of the new 1,500 light fixtures have been installed and powered, DOTD said in a press release.

• "The initial test lighting in May was a great success," said contractor Frischhertz Electric president Kevin Frischhertz, which installed the lights on the Caesars Superdome.
• The goal is to have it finished by early 2025.

Traffic alert: Expect delays heading to the West Bank through the end of August.

• The far left lane is now closed 24 hours a day.
• The Magazine Street on-ramp has closed, but the Tchoupitoulas Street on-ramp has reopened.
• And, the HOV route is now one lane on the East Bank side of the bridge.

What they're saying: "While the installation of the new LED lights on the Crescent City Connection undoubtedly requires understanding and patience of the public, I think everyone will be thrilled with the final result: instant icon status for our bridge," said Michael Hecht, the president and CEO of GNO Inc., and the city-state liaison for projects related to the Super Bowl.

Meanwhile, work continues at Poydras Street.

• The road was torn up before Essence Fest for people getting off I-10 near the Superdome and heading downtown.

• As of Monday, the project will progress from Loyola Avenue to Convention Center Boulevard. Lanes will be closed the next three weeks, the city said, so the roads can be patched.
• The work will be done two blocks at a time, the city said, alternating between lakebound and riverbound sides depending on rush hour.

And then, Poydras will be milled and repaved. The project is supposed to be finished by the end of the year, the city said.

• Julia Street also is being repaired, adding to the gridlock, writes Julia Guilbeau at NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune.

What's next: Hecht's other prioritized infrastructure projects include rehousing people living in encampments and improving interstates by fixing broken lights, power-washing barrier walls and removing litter.

Bottom line: When you see the pretty lights on the bridge next year, thank a West Bank driver.

Go deeper:

• DOTD's timeline for CCC traffic changes.
• 5 priorities for New Orleans this year ahead of hosting Super Bowl.
• The Crescent City Connection is getting a literal glow-up.