KEY TAKEAWAYS: DDD has begun more than $150,000 in Canal Street infrastructure improvements. Crews will repair more than 1,700 square feet of brick and flagstone sidewalks. Work includes drainage improvements, ADA upgrades and repairs at Molly Marine Plaza. A new public lighting installation a t Molly Marine Plaza is planned later this year.   The Downtown Development District has started more than $150,000 in infrastructure improvements along Canal Street, including sidewalk repairs, drainage work and accessibility upgrades aimed at improving one of downtown New Orleans’ primary commercial corridors. The DDD announced today that construction is underway on the second phase of its Canal Street improvements. The work is being funded through the district’s capital bond and operating funds. The project includes reconstruction of the sidewalk at Molly Marine Plaza and improvements to more than 1,700 square feet of brick and flagstone sidewalks. Crews also will clean more than 850 linear feet of sidewalk drains and install 30 steel drain covers. Other work includes upgrades to curb landings to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, replacement of 40 granite sidewalk tiles and 12 granite curb sections, and installation of 67 replacement covers for termite bait stations. Improvements at Molly Marine Plaza also will prepare the site for a new public lighting installation scheduled for later this year, according to the DDD. “Canal Street is one of New Orleans’ most important corridors, and these improvements reflect our long-term focus on maintaining the public infrastructure that supports residents, businesses, and visitors every day,” DDD President and CEO Seth Knudsen said. The project builds on Mayor Helena Moreno’s Canal Street Renaissance initiative, which calls for coordination among city agencies and community partners on improvements intended to support economic activity, public safety and the corridor’s overall appearance. Canal Street Renaissance Director Sayde Finkel said infrastructure investment is one component of the broader effort to strengthen Canal Street and its connections to downtown and the French Quarter. “Canal Street’s success is also closely tied to the strength of the Downtown and French Quarter, and our ability to create a thriving, connected environment across these neighborhoods,” Finkel said. The DDD said the latest work is part of its continuing investment in Canal Street, with additional projects expected to focus on walkability, accessibility and public spaces. Created by the Louisiana Legislature in 1974, the DDD provides economic development, public safety, sanitation and other services within downtown New Orleans. Its district extends from Iberville Street to the Pontchartrain Expressway and from Claiborne Avenue to the Mississippi River. ...read more read less