Sewerage & Water Board Of New Orleans Community & Intergovernmental Relations Department 625 St. Joseph Street, Room B-47 New Orleans, Louisiana 70165 504-585-2175
May 16, 2005
Groundbreaking for Major Construction Project New Technology, New Revenues Mayor, Sewerage and Water Board Take Next Step With Fiber Optics, Modern Pipe Replacement

Mayor C. Ray Nagin and the members of The Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans today broke ground on a project to simultaneously install fiber optic conduit, along with new sewer lines.

"We are moving to the forefront of cities across the nation with this fiber optics project, which offers a number of benefits," said Mayor Nagin, president of the S&WB. "With the dual purpose process, citizens get a rehabilitated sewer system and an entirely new telecommunications network for the price of one. In addition, the solution will create a new revenue stream for the city, reduce expenses for government and businesses and even help us bridge the digital divide by bringing services into disadvantaged areas."

He added, "We will also establish a competitive and affordable opportunity for a 'next generation' communication service with such features as real-time video teleconferencing and disaster data and recovery.

"This is a great opportunity for us to provide great environmental protection for our citizens and continue to move the City deeper into the challenging and competitive world of fiber optics."

Work on the construction project will take place from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. to minimize disruptions for citizens. The boundaries for the project are the River, Poydras Street, South Claiborne Avenue and Tulane Avenue/Common Street.

Approximately 31,000 linear feet of sewer lines and conduit will be installed at an estimated construction cost of $5.3 million.

The 18-month project will employ a modern form of trenchless construction called pipe bursting to replace broken sewer lines. The method accommodates the fiber optic conduit which is part of a CBD pilot program that the Board is conducting with Renaissance Integrated Solutions (RIS), developers of the dual purpose rehabilitation solution process.

Because the conduit runs on the exterior of the sewer line, it is not exposed to wastewater or other elements in the sewer system. The exterior installation makes possible both the servicing or fiber and the routine cleaning of clogged sewer lines with traditional methods.

Once installed, the leak-free, long-life, high-density polyethylene conduit can be leased to communications service providers to create a viable source of revenue for the Board and City.

This project is part of a $639 million program to rehabilitate the sewage collection system throughout New Orleans. The Board signed a consent decree with the USEPA in 1998 to study, evaluate and repair the system over a 12-year period. To date, the Board has spent $169 million for repair and replacement of mains, pipes and manholes and has met all construction deadlines set forth in the decree.

For more information regarding the S&WB's Sewer System Evaluation and Rehabilitation Program (SSERP) visit the SSERP website at GOSSERP or www.gosserp.com..