PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER MIKE NEELY. THE SUMMER OF SUPER BOWL IS THE SUMMER OF SUFFERING FOR MANY BEHIND THE WHEEL. IF YOU’VE DRIVEN ON THE INTERSTATE IN NEW ORLEANS RECENTLY, YOU’VE PROBABLY SEEN IT, AND MORE THAN LIKELY YOU’VE BEEN STUCK IN IT THESE DAYS. TRAFFIC IN THE CRESCENT CITY LOOKS MORE LIKE THE WINDY CITY, THE BIG APPLE OR EVEN LOS ANGELES PLACES NOTORIOUS FOR GRIDLOCK. AND WE’RE JUST NOT USED TO THAT. THESE ARE GROWING PAINS, A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR LIGHTING PROJECT ON THE CRESCENT CITY CONNECTION IS THE MAIN REASON, BUT IT’S NOT MUCH BETTER IF YOU GET OFF THE INTERSTATE AND TAKE A SURFACE STREET. IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYWHERE YOU GO NEAR DOWNTOWN, LANES ARE CLOSED. STREETS BLOCKED, AND TRAFFIC NIGHTMARES. WE ALL NEED TO BE PATIENT. THE END RESULT WILL BE A BETTER CITY, A PRETTIER CITY, A SAFER CITY. STREETS THAT DRIVE BETTER ARE EASIER ON OUR CARS AND SHOULD DRAIN PROPERLY WHEN IT RAINS. YES, IT’S NOT A PLEASANT PROCESS AND PLENTY OF PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED. BUT WHILE THE JOURNEY TO GET THERE MAY BE DIFFICULT, THE FINAL DESTINATION WILL BE WELL WORTH IT.