Gulfport to get 2nd bridge over US 90 as millions announced for Coast projects
Another bridge over U.S. 90 is coming to downtown Gulfport, this time to the port, Mississippi’s congressional delegation announced Tuesday.
U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith and Rep. Steven Palazzo said in a press release the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded a $15.76 million grant to improve highway access at the Port of Gulfport.
That includes improvements to 1.2 miles of 30th Avenue and a grade-separated bridge over Beach Boulevard.
The access will help military, commercial and freight tenants, the press release said.
“The Port of Gulfport is critically important to the Mississippi Gulf Coast economy, as well as the economy of the Southeastern United States,” Wicker said. “This grant will improve access to the port, making it a more attractive option for commerce and trade and improving safety for employees and visitors to the Coast.”
The total cost is expected to be $19.7 million, with a local match of $3.94 million by the Mississippi State Port Authority, which was awarded the grant as part of the DOT’s Port Infrastructure Development Program.
The Port of Gulfport is a top 25 container port, the second-largest importer of green fruit in the United States, and it’s designated as one of 17 Strategic Seaports by the Department of Defense.
In 2019, the city received funding for a pedestrian and tram bridge over U.S. 90, from Jones Park to the under-construction Mississippi Aquarium. It’s expected to cost $9.9 million, with $6.7 million in GOMESA funds, $2.6 million from the Federal Transit Administration and a $3.25 million local match.
‘Clear water’ coming to Gautier
More federal funding for the Coast was announced Tuesday.
After decades of tinted water flowing out of faucets in Gautier, the city now has $2.5 million from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to improve water quality and environmental infrastructure.
“Gautier’s overburdened water supply system affects the safety and quality of life of current residents and risks the long-term economic vitality of the city,” Mayor Phil Torjusen said in a press release. “Remedying these deficiencies will not only bring Gautier into compliance with state and federal regulations, but also will improve water aesthetics and environmental quality of the Mississippi coast, including the fragile habitats of coastal waters.”
The new funding is “crucial” to ensuring the city could build a new nanofiltration water treatment plant to treat 3 million gallons a day, Torjusen said. It will work with the current ionization plant that treats 1 million gallons a day.
The city has budgeted $6 million from a revenue bond for the new plant.
The money also will help address the city’s aging pipes.
“Gautier is committed to providing all residents with safe, clear water and has worked to address shortcomings of existing infrastructure through a comprehensive multi-year water resource improvement program,” Torjusen said.
He also thanked Palazzo and Hyde-Smith for their help in securing the funding.
2020 Army Corps projects in Mississippi
Hyde-Smith released the full 2020 work plan for the Army Corps in Mississippi, which allocates funding for $46.5 million for 27 projects. Other Coast projects include:
- $4 million for an ongoing project to reclaim treated wastewater effluent from points in southern Jackson County
- Additional $5,130,000 for Gulfport Harbor dredging (FY2020 total: $9,485,000)
- Additional $1,700,000 for Pascagoula Harbor dredging (FY2020 total: $5,560,000)
Elsewhere in Mississippi, the projects are:
- $1,700,000 to initiate and complete construction of new sewer and water rehabilitation work in the City of Oxford
- $750,000 to initiate and complete construction of new sewer and water rehabilitation work in the City of Sardis
- $700,000 to initiate and complete construction of new sewer and water rehabilitation work in the City of Clinton
- Operation and Maintenance Account: $12,961,000 total
- Additional $6,029,000 for channel dredging and activities at Whitten Lock on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway (FY2020 total: $43,698,000)
- Additional $39,000 for Yazoo River navigation maintenance clearing and snagging activities (FY2020 total: $150,000)
- Additional $23,000 for Mouth of the Yazoo River dredging activities (FY2020 total: $330,000)
- $40,000 for Water and Environmental Certification
- Mississippi River and Tributaries Construction: $13,192,000 total (new funding)
- $7,500,000 million for the Yazoo Backwater Area to continue environmental documentation and the acquisition of mitigation necessary to advance revived efforts to complete the last remaining unconstructed feature of the project pumps
- $2,942,000 for Big Sunflower River to complete the design and construction of two sediment reduction structure projects
- $2,750,000 for Upper Yazoo Projects for ongoing channel improvement and bank stabilization efforts
- Mississippi River and Tributaries Operation and Maintenance: $6,819,000 total
- Additional $1,655,000 Arkabutla Lake (FY2020 total: $7,186,000)
- Additional $1,322,00 Grenada Lake (FY2020 total: $6,151,000)
- Additional $826,000 Sardis Lake (FY2020 total: $6,116,000)
- Additional $800,000 Yazoo Backwater Area (FY2020 total: $1,204,000)
- Additional $743,000 Tributaries (FY2020 total: $1,418,000)
- Additional $655,000 Enid Lake (FY2020 total: $5,318,000)
- Additional $560,000 Main Stem (FY2020 total: $1,695,000)
- Additional $107,000 Inspection of Completed Works (FY2020 total: $259,000)
- Additional $100,000 Whittington Auxiliary (FY2020 total: $380,000)
- Additional $45,000 Yazoo City (FY2020 total: $559,000)
- Additional $4,000 Greenwood (FY2020 total: $751,000)
- Additional $2,000 Vicksburg Harbor (FY2020 total: $942,000)
This story was originally published February 12, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
