Mayor Helena Moreno “Smooth Streets” Initiative to Tackle Potholes Across New Orleans

The City of New Orleans is ramping up efforts to address one of residents’ most persistent concerns—damaged streets—as Helena Moreno pushes forward with an aggressive expansion of her “Smooth Streets” Initiative.

The city’s New Orleans Department of Public Works is currently filling approximately 500 potholes per week, but under the Mayor’s New Directive, that number is expected to triple to 1,500 weekly. The announcement, shared via social media, signals a renewed sense of urgency in tackling infrastructure issues that have long impacted neighborhoods across the city.

“This is about improving quality of life for our residents,” Moreno said, emphasizing the importance of accelerating repairs and restoring confidence in city services. “We have to work with urgency to fix these long-standing problems.”

The expanded initiative includes a proposal to seek $2.5 million in federal funding to hire additional crews and purchase another specialized pothole repair truck. City Officials say these resources will allow the Department of Public Works to respond more quickly and efficiently to service requests while addressing long-standing maintenance backlogs.

The “Smooth Streets” plan also builds upon existing efforts already underway. The city has committed to hiring 50 new workers dedicated to more permanent infrastructure improvements, including sidewalk reconstruction and comprehensive street repairs. These efforts are designed to move beyond temporary fixes and toward long-term solutions that address underlying issues such as drainage and aging infrastructure.

To support this accelerated effort, Moreno is expected to sign an Executive Order aimed at streamlining hiring processes and reducing bureaucratic delays across city departments. By cutting red tape, the administration hopes to deploy workers faster and ensure projects move forward without unnecessary obstacles.

In addition to local initiatives, the mayor is working with state and federal partners to extend a key 2026 deadline tied to the Hurricane Katrina-Era Recovery Funds. These funds are critical to large-scale infrastructure projects that go beyond surface repairs, including rebuilding streets from the ground up—addressing not only pavement but also pipes, drainage systems, and foundational structures.

City Leaders describe this funding as part of one of the most significant infrastructure investments in New Orleans in decades. Extending the deadline would provide additional time to complete complex projects that require coordination, planning, and sustained resources.

For residents, the impact of these efforts could be felt quickly, particularly as the city increases its weekly pothole repair targets. Damaged streets have long been a source of frustration for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians alike, affecting everything from daily commutes to public safety.