Mayor Charles Caillouet will formally open Back Street to Canal Boulevard on Monday August 26, 2002 at 10:00 a.m. with a ceremony at that corner. This portion of Back Street was reconstructed from St. Charles St. to Canal Boulevard with the financial assistance of the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant Program. (CDBG) Mayor Caillouet stated that this reconstruction was made possible through the year 2001 program. Ms. Liana Barker, Director of Housing and Community Development for the City, said the CDBG program is designed to provide improvements for low and moderate-income areas to improve their living environment. Mayor Caillouet continued that this will have a dramatic improvement on the lives of the people living in this area as well as for persons attempting to access the Hospital and University. Next year's CDBG project will involve the Annex Area of the City of Thibodaux. Approximately two years ago HUD funded new water and gas lines in that area. This coming year, the Roads, Drainage and a small portion of Sewer Line, which needs replacing, will be under construction. The Annex area will be the first area of the city to have a completely renovated infrastructure in the city, Mayor Caillouet said. Back Street is part of the city's long-range plan for transportation on the South side of Thibodaux. This area will form a vital link in the East-West corridor across Thibodaux. Mayor Caillouet said that the individuals living in this area will be the first to experience the benefits of increased mobility to shopping areas, Thibodaux Regional Hospital, and Nicholls State University. The East-West Corridor will ultimately link the Thibodaux By-Pass Road with Percy Brown Road as it extends across the Southern portion of the City. Negotiations are presently underway with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development for the transfer of LA 648 from Pecan St. to Back St. and on to Percy Brown Road to the City. The State will reconstruct the roadway and then the city will take control of the road turning the majority of the roadway into a multi-lane boulevard. Preliminary plans and cost estimates including signalization of the intersection of LA 648 with Audubon St. have been forwarded to State Officials and the City is awaiting their decision to move forward with the transfer. The Western Portion of the Corridor from Canal Boulevard to the Thibodaux By-Pass will be funded by the Metropolitan Planning Organization using Federal and State Funds under the City's long-range plans. Mayor Caillouet stated that when the corridor would be completed this will assist not only Thibodaux residents move across Thibodaux but will open an additional commercial corridor, which will ultimately have a large economic impact on the future of the City of Thibodaux. Mayor Caillouet continued that along with our continuing road construction program and other long-range infrastructure projects the citizens of the City of Thibodaux will continue to enjoy a safe and vibrant community. | 
