Here’s the latest on bike and walking trail connecting South MS cities
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Federal $9.6M grant funds an 8.75-mile multi-use trail from Ocean Springs to Gautier.
- MDOT designs path; preconstruction is ongoing and construction may take 2–3 years.
- Trail will separate cyclists from busy U.S. 90, boosting recreation and local tourism.
It’s almost two years since a $9.6 million federal grant was announced to build a biking and pedestrian trail connecting downtown Ocean Springs to the center of Gautier.
The 8.75-mile trail will run from Washington Avenue (Mississippi 609) in Ocean Springs to Dolphin Drive in Gautier, near The Sound Amphitheater and just west of Gautier-Vancleave Road.
It’s the same area where U.S. 90 will be widened with a third lane in each direction to help alleviate traffic, especially through Ocean Springs.
No contract for the trail or widening work has been awarded yet. Preconstruction activities are still under way, said Anna Ehrgott, public information officer for Mississippi Department of Transportation’s Southern District.
She is able to provide more information about the trail location.
“The multi-use path will be constructed north of U.S. 90., Ehrgott said.
For those eager to have a trail to ride with family, friends and their bicycle club, another development looks promising.
“The multi-use path along U.S. 90 may be constructed separately from the widening project,” Ehrgott said. “That is an option under consideration.”
The multi-use path is being designed now, she said, and MDOT anticipates it will take 2 to 3 years before the trail is ready if it is built at the same time as the widening project. The contractor who is the successful bidder will be given a completion date, but will decide the timetable for the projects.
The trail could be ready to start before the widening of U.S. 90 begins, since utilities have to be moved to accommodate a wider highway and the businesses along the busy route where 40,000 or more vehicles a day travel in some spots.
A boom for the Coast
South Mississippi residents and visitors have miles of sidewalks along U.S. 90 and the beach through Harrison County. They share the concrete in many places with families carting their equipment from the car to the beach and people jogging or walking their dogs.
This new path will give active adults and families a place to ride in Jackson County, and serve as a healthy lifestyle billboard for those driving to entice them to walk or pedal the route.
It’s much like the trail over on the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana or near Hattiesburg, north of the Coast, said Duncan Perkins, owner of Tri Hard Sports in Ocean Springs and Biloxi Bicycle Works.
“If you build it, they will come. If you can make it a destination with some cool stuff along the way, it will flourish,” he said.
The destinations are the nearby beaches, the shops and restaurants in downtown Ocean Springs and The Sound and upcoming Mississippi Songwriters’ Performing Arts Center in Gautier. Gulf Islands National Seashore is along the route where the new bike trail will run.
“We are excited about the new pathway along highway 90 which includes a multi-use area and a share the road concept utilizing existing service roads,” said Ocean Springs Mayor Bobby Cox. “This approach promotes safety for walkers and bikers and highlights MDOT’s commitment to the safety of our roadway and everyone who uses it.”
High traffic volumes and high speeds on U.S. 90 make the road unsafe for bicyclists. So while it’s important to accommodate the traffic, the trail is a great feature of the widening project, he said.
Time to ride
People in South Mississippi are big fans of cycling, Perkins said, and they appreciate when new biking, running and pedestrian infrastructure is built.
People of all ages set out as a group from the beach in Ocean Springs, the bike shops and a brewery to share adventures. Bicycle tourism is drawing people from other states to South Mississippi, bringing their own bikes, but also renting bicycles and electric bikes at several locations.
This new trail will give them a safe place to ride.
