City Moves Towards Improvements
BOBBY ARDOIN
St. Landry Now.com Editor
The wish list of water, sewer and street improvements that Opelousas residents have demanded for years are approaching their starting points, but they will not be completed without some inconvenience, says Mayor Julius Alsandor.
City engineer William Jarrell III and Alsandor presented updates on the three major areas of infrastructure upgrades during a three-hour Opelousas Board of Aldermen meeting on Tuesday night.
While ongoing problems with potholes and water leaks are still being addressed, Jarrell said major decisions with water quality, distribution and roads move forward as state officials review architectural plans.
Street Issues
Preparations are being made, Jarrell said, to rehabilitate West Grolee Street from Bullard to Railroad Avenue.
Grolee is heavily traveled and Alsandor said that when major work does begin on that project, the contractors will have to also repair the existing water lines underneath the roadway..
That means motorists will need to take alternate routes and should be prepared to deal with travel delays on a roadway that involves school traffic, according to Alsandor.
Jarrell said that the state funding assistance will also provide improvements on Park Avenue, Abdalla Boulevard and Waillor and Perry Lane.
“We are finally getting funding (for streets), but it’s going to be a long haul,” said Alsandor.
Water Issues
The overall water and sewer improvement plan adopted by the Board nearly three years ago is being funded through state loans, grant funding and higher utility rates paid by customers.
Jarrell said a major water well project involving Med-South is being advanced by state officials, while water lines along railroad track proximities such as Rice, Pulford, Planters and Waillor streets as well as Interstate 49 and Bayou Callahan are out of service.
The citywide water main improvement project which includes replacing galvanized pipes, has received Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals approval to proceed, said Jarrell.
Jarrell reminded the Board that the LDHH-sanctioned project also includes rehabilitation for all municipal water wells.
The first project Jarrell said, has started and will involve the major well located in front of the Opelousas water treatment plant.
“This is our biggest well and it is being given the first priority. The pumps for the well have already been ordered,” said Jarrell.
On Tuesday night the Board approved a $76,422 change order increase for the water treatment plant project, while voting to spend an additional $82,080 that addresses the sewer main at Bayou Tesson.
Jarrell said project cost increases will help with repairing two sewer mains on each side of Church Street where serious leaks were occurring.
“This was an emergency and all the work done is completed,” said Jarrell.
Jarrell noted that the situation with city water and sewerage is progressing.
“We (the city) are much better off now than we were two years ago,” said Jarrell
