NEW ORLEANS — Homeowners in the Carrolton area are saying they need help getting an abandoned hauling truck that’s becoming an eyesore removed from their neighborhood.
Jason Dumas said the truck has been parked on Fern Street for several weeks, and now it’s becoming a dumpster of sorts alongside a major construction zone that has made roads surrounding his home impassable.
“We are a 12-block project that has now taken almost 24 months,” said Dumas. “That is kind of unacceptable.”
The construction zone is part of an ongoing New Orleans Department of Public Works project.
Dumas said he saw the abandoned truck used by construction crews to collect debris.
“The truck broke down right after Dec. 15,” said Dumas. “We’ve called 3-1-1, we’ve called NOPD, we’ve called the department of public works and that truck is still sitting right there blocking the street.”
And now Dumas and other neighbors are saying it’s becoming a health hazard as its being used as a dumping ground.
“Someone stole the battery, flattened the tires, took the license plate off the back and busted out the head lights,” he said. “NOPD says it’s not on your property, we can’t do anything. 311 says they are three months behind schedule, and they will get to it as soon as they can, and the department of public works says they don’t have a contract with a company with a big enough tow truck to come and get it so we are stuck with it.”
We went to the city with their concerns and asked interim Department of Public Works director Sarah McLaughlin Porteous if the city was aware of the abandoned vehicle and what if anything could be done.
“It’s a vehicle that has been abandoned and people in the neighborhood are actually using it to put trash in,” she said. “I’ve actually been in touch with the director of sanitation, and they are going to go and clear out the trash. Once they do that, we will remove the vehicle.”
McLaughlin Porteous says she does not believe the vehicle is owned by the city or one of its contractors.