The waves in the new sidewalks on Paul Maillard Road match the various elevations of homeowners’ yards to support proper drainage, according to Francesca Blanchard, a St. Charles Parish spokesperson.
“Had a flat sidewalk been poured the entire stretch, many yards would have held water and caused problems for homeowners,” Blanchard said.
She said the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development is responsible for the project and has been made aware of various issues they will address. Blanchard did not elaborate on the issues that were reported, but residents have complained on Facebook of the uneven sidewalks.
The parish is paying for 20 percent of the $10.9 million Paul Maillard Road Revitalization Project. The state is covering the rest. The project will improve the length of LA-52 from River Road to US-90.
“These improvements to our infrastructure are being made with minimal local tax dollars,” Blanchard said.
Daniel Gitlin, a spokesperson for the DOTD, said in an email that the sidewalks on Paul Maillard meet ADA requirements and were installed according to plans.
He also said St. Charles Parish selected and approved the consultant who designed the road plans.
“Several newly installed/refurbished driveways do not meet DOTD standards,” Gitlin said. “These driveways and corresponding sidewalks will need to be reconstructed to meet Department Standards.”
Blanchard said the project is split into three phases and the parish anticipates that the current phase of the project will be completed by the end of November.
The DOTD announced the project in August 2023. The project includes sidewalks, subsurface drainage, replacing water and sewer lines, and a complete top-level roadway resurfacing between Blueberry Hill Street and Angus Drive, according to a statement by DOTD.
