NOLA Potholes

A giant dip in the road in the 4200 block of St. Peter Street has earned the nickname "Grand Canyon" from area residents.

Bumpy streets are so commonplace in New Orleans that residents have taken some extreme measures to draw attention to particularly bothersome potholes.

There was the birthday party that eastern New Orleans residents threw for a 5-foot-wide crevice on Cannes Street. They had cake, balloons and a "Happy Birthday, Pothole" sign.

A pothole on French Street near the intersection of Memphis Street is filled with oyster shells and a sign wishing potholes across the city Happy New Year 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. . .

Then there was the Broadmoor couple who turned a 2-foot-deep, 8-foot-wide gash in the pavement post-Katrina into the Broadmoor Green Space Migratory Bird Refuge and Wetlands Reclamation Project. The preserve included plastic flamingos, toy boats and a guest book signed by passers-by.
 

The sense of humor and whimsy is admirable. But crumbling roads, sewers and public buildings are a negative force on our quality of life and the city's economic vibrancy.

Witness the real New Orleans 'Mystery Cavern' pothole, behold links galore, then visit the gift shop.

New Orleans, at age 292, has far more creaky infrastructure than any agency can afford to fix, according to a new report from the Bureau of Governmental Research. "The Price of Civilization" defines the problem in detail, although researchers say their tally of capital needs is not complete. read more . . .