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New Iberia streets update: contractor pacing, Darby Lane repairs expected in 30–60 days; council OKs change order for curb work
Summary
City engineer and contractor representatives told the council the large overlay project covers about 50 streets and will take roughly two years (360 working days); officials said Darby Lane striping and targeted repairs are planned once a state detour is approved. Council authorized a change order adding a unit-price curb repair item to address curbs that popped after milling.
John Sharpenche of Bay Road Habitat and Associates briefed the council on the city's multi-street paving program and responded to residents who asked that Darby Lane be prioritized.
"We have 9 streets under construction right now," Sharpenche said, describing a 50-street, roughly 360-working-day project that he said equates to about two years of calendar time. He told council members the contractor had shifted sequencing earlier in the contract to coordinate with a separate sewer project and that the city could request priority changes but the contractor may charge more to remobilize.
On Darby Lane specifically, Sharpenche said the street is on a state highway and any closure requires a state-approved detour plan and traffic control devices. "It is gonna happen," he said, but cautioned that the city must coordinate with the state agency and the engineer must review the detour plans before a closure. He estimated work and restriping in that area could be completed "within the next 30 to 60 days" for the side of town currently being worked on, and noted crews are moving to finish the center part of town after finishing the west side.
Residents who spoke during public comment urged faster repairs. Sid Boudreaux said the curve near McDonald's on Darby Lane has almost-collisions and lacks striping; Robert McCurley described the intersection at LA-182 as "impossible to make a left" and urged turning-lane improvements and more striping.
On an associated procurement matter, the council considered Resolution No. 2677, a change order to add a unit-price line for curb replacement. Sharpenche explained that when milling revealed existing curbing that was "popping off," replacing full curbing with a concrete base would be more expensive (about $65–$70 per foot), while the contractor offered a pinned-curb method at a lower unit price. Council members discussed breaking out drainage-related costs so the city could charge some items to drainage budgets rather than road funds.
The Mayor directed staff to provide per-street drainage cost breakdowns to help preserve road contingency funds. Council members asked for unitized cost summaries to track contingency spending and to enable use of drainage funds for unforeseen catch-basin and piping replacements discovered during road work.
Next steps: staff will provide the requested per-street drainage and catch-basin cost breakdowns; the contractor will continue work and the city will seek the required state detour approvals to allow full Darby Lane reconstruction.
