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State says Hopkins Street work will resume in February; city asks for drawings and as‑builts
Summary
City and state officials updated the New Iberia council on the long-running Hopkins Street (LA 675) improvements. DOTD representatives said they lined unexpected terracotta pipe, will jack-and-bore under the railroad in February, and estimate about 15 months of remaining work if railroad scheduling cooperates.
City and state representatives told the New Iberia City Council on Tuesday that work on the Hopkins Street portion of the LA 675 improvements is moving forward after a months‑long pause and that major under‑railroad work is scheduled to begin in February.
A state Department of Transportation representative said crews discovered clay (terracotta) pipe where plans indicated concrete and elected to line the existing pipe rather than perform a full remove‑and‑replace. "We went ahead and...we were able to line the pipe," the representative said, adding that lining allowed crews to resume placing catch basins near the railroad and would reduce long‑term maintenance for the city.
Council members pressed for copies of the project drawings and the as‑built plans so the city can assess future maintenance obligations once the road is transferred to municipal control. Mayor asked staff to collect as‑built documentation; a state rep offered to provide digital copies of the construction plans and later the as‑built drawings.
Officials described the next critical step as a jack‑and‑bore to install a 66‑inch casing and a 48‑inch pipe under the railroad. "The February, we should show some action there," a state representative said, noting that railroad flagger scheduling has constrained the timetable. The same representative said, if railroad approvals and schedules fall into place, the remaining work could run roughly 15 months.
Council members also questioned how crews will tie new concrete drainage boxes into the existing lined trunk pipe and whether the city will face legacy maintenance issues. City and state staff said the liner and the method of tying in boxes should provide new connections that are easier for the city to maintain than unlined terracotta.
The council asked for regular progress updates and for the state to share plan sets and as‑built documentation to allow municipal engineers to review tie‑in details before final acceptance of the road.
