KEY TAKEAWAYS: Crews completed paving on the 1100 block of Decatur Street, including the Gov. Nicholls and Ursulines intersections. The project is replacing water mains installed more than a century ago while upgrading sewer, drainage and other infrastructure. French Quarter businesses have re ported revenue losses from prolonged construction, barricades and limited access. The city awarded $97,500 in grants to 26 affected businesses, while nine business owners reached an agreement with the Sewerage and Water Board over access and communication.   A milestone has been reached in a controversial and delayed infrastructure project that has disrupted French Quarter businesses for nearly a year. Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans crews have completed paving the 1100 block of Decatur Street, including the intersections at Gov. Nicholls and Ursulines Streets. The work is part of the French Quarter Transmission Main Project, which began last fall to replace 115-year-old water mains near Dumaine and Decatur streets. The project includes underground utility replacement, new water, sewer, and drainage infrastructure, street paving and restoration, and sidewalk restoration along the 900 to 1100 blocks of Decatur Street. The original transmission mains and business connections on those blocks were installed in 1906 and 1908. The project is funded by FEMA through the Joint Infrastructure Recovery Request program. Roubion Roads and Streets LLC is the contractor for the SWBNO portion of the project. Business owners have said prolonged construction, fencing, barricades, limited traffic access, and blocked storefronts have hurt revenue along the corridor. Several nearby businesses have closed during the project, including LUFU NOLA, Café Sbisa, and Dead on Decatur. In late July, the city awarded $97,500 in grants to 26 French Quarter businesses affected by the prolonged Sewerage and Water Board construction along Lower Decatur and St. Peter streets. The grants marked the first round of assistance through the city’s new Business Stabilization Fund, with the New Orleans Community Support Foundation administering the distribution. Also in late July, nine business owners who sued the Sewerage and Water Board reached a court-ordered agreement with the utility over construction access and communication. Under the agreement, the Sewerage and Water Board agreed to remove fencing in areas where work is not active, provide at least 72 hours’ notice before new or extended street closures, and avoid water shutoffs to businesses within the construction zone. ...read more read less