Perkins Road Overpass Getting a New Look with Community Input
We just kicked off construction on improvements to the Perkins Road Overpass district, a popular shopping, dining and gathering spot for surrounding neighborhoods. The first phase of this work will include building a path so residents on the Hundred Oaks side of the overpass can walk or bike to the commercial area.
The project also includes lighting, landscaping and safety improvements, including an improved railroad crossing, and improvements to the parking areas.
This improved access was the idea of local residents and businesses who worked with the City-Parish and secured funding for the project through our first Call for Projects. Last summer, Entergy relocated utilities in this area while the design team finalized plans and the project is now under construction. Improvements include:
- 41 total delineated parking spaces – provides more organized area and safer conditions
- Multi-use trail for both pedestrians and bicyclists with directional and trailhead signage
- Gated railroad crossing for safe access and connectivity from residential area to merchant district
- Bike racks and litter receptacles
- Overhead and low-level bollard lighting along the pathway and parking area
- Urban, low maintenance landscaping and tree canopy
- Minor drainage improvements including additional grate inlets, larger storm drain pipes, and aggregate trench drain systems
A future improvement that came from our second Call for Projects will include a signalized pedestrian crossing at Perkins Road and Ferndale Avenue to provide safer crossing for residents of Southdowns to access the Perkins corridor. These two projects will make the Perkins corridor a safer and more complete street.
I believe good things happen in every neighborhood when our City-Parish government listens to our citizens and we work together to make our lives safer and more enjoyable.
We’re working closely with the businesses impacted by this construction to make this construction go as smoothly and quickly as possible.