Paving the Way
Don Hammack
Sun Herald Reporter
1. Bay of St. Louis Bridge
Status: Demolition of the old bridge has begun, and equipment is being staged to begin driving piles on April 19. Cost: $266.8 million.
Completion date: Two lanes open by May 2007, and project complete November 2007.
2. Biloxi Bay Bridge
Status: MDOT has selected three teams to submit bids on the new 95-foot-tall bridge: GC Construction of Kansas City, Mo., Granite Archer Western of Watsonville, Calif., and Yates/Hill of Philadelphia, Miss. Estimated cost: Granite Archer Western completed the only bid on the first 85-foot-bridge at $274.9 million. The taller bridge obviously will cost more.
Estimated completion date: March 2008.
3. Beach Boulevard
(Bay St. Louis)
Status: MDOT has advertised for a design firm to handle the project. It's overseeing the project for the city of Bay St. Louis, working with Federal Highway Administration and the Army Corps of Engineers, which is rebuilding the seawall. The project will run south of U.S. 90 for about 1.25 miles, just south of the railroad tracks. Estimated cost: The roadwork should be in the ballpark of $10 million, but that does not include seawall restoration and utility relocation costs.
Estimated completion date: Design should take six months and the company should be selected within a month. Total construction time still uncertain because of right of way acquisition questions and utility rerouting.
4. U.S. 90 (Harrison County)
Status: Emergency repairs have been completed. Final repairs to restore the highway to pre-Katrina include repaving the highway and repairing parking bays, cross-overs, sidewalks and curbs. A networked traffic-signal system will help move traffic more effectively. Some subsurface drainage work remains and the median will be landscaped. Estimated cost: MDOT has spent $30 million so far and requested $50 million more.
Estimated completion date: March 2007.
5. Interstate 310/
Canal Road connector
Status: The initial funding has been obtained with MDOT's Highway Enhancement through Local Partnerships (HELP) bond program. Right of way acquisition should start soon, although the Gulfport City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to oppose the elevated part of the project south of 28th Street. Mayor Brent Warr will appear before the transportation commissioners Tuesday to state the city's case. Estimated cost: $300 million.
Estimated completion date: 4-5 years after project is designed.
6. East Harrison County/
Biloxi connector
Status: MDOT has federal approval for the route, but the funding has not been established. It is a HELP candidate. The Biloxi City Council voted in December asking it be rerouted using the Popp's Ferry Road corridor. Estimated cost: $300 million.
Estimated completion date: Right of way acquisition would take 2-3 years, with five more years of construction.
7. Mississippi 601/
Canal Road
Status: MDOT held two public forums in March taking input on the route for the highway, which would essentially replace U.S. 49. Current plans include three alternatives which would tie back in to U.S. 49 at various places south of Wiggins. Estimated cost: $200 million-$400 million (considered very preliminary).
Estimated completion date: Environmental studies and federal approval will take 1-2 years, with 8-10 years of construction.
8. Mississippi 67
(I-110 to Mississippi 605)
Status: T.C.B. Construction of Poplarville is doing grading and drainage work. Cost: $12.9 million.
Estimated completion date: Grading and draining completed in three months, with paving done in 1½-2 years.
9. Mississippi 605 (Lorraine Road to Mississippi 67)
Status: Warren Paving of Gulfport is paving the road now. Cost: $16 million.
Estimated completion date: July 2007.
10. Mississippi 67
(Mississippi 605 to U.S. 49)
Status: Huey Stockstill Inc. of Picayune is paving the road now. Cost: $18.85 million.
Estimated completion date: November 2007.
