Finally, Popp’s Ferry Extension has start date for construction

The start of construction is in sight for the Popp’s Ferry Extension in Biloxi that’s been discussed for 20 years.

The Mississippi Department of Transportation this week released its 385-page Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan that details major projects in South Mississippi over the next four years.

The first phase of work on the Popp’s Ferry Extension is scheduled for fiscal year 2018, which runs from July 2017 through June 2018.

MDOT puts the project cost at $14.9 million for the three-quarter-mile road that will link Popp’s Ferry Road, which now stops at Pass Road, to U.S. 90 and the beach. Some of that cost is for acquisition of homes in the path of the roadway.

It will open a new corridor for possible development and ease traffic during events at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center.

“The Popp’s Ferry Extension is not an MDOT project, per se,” said MDOT District Engineer Kelly Castleberry, but part of the federal money will come through MDOT from Gulf Regional Planning.

Biloxi spokesman Vincent Creel said construction of the road is expected to take 14 to 18 months.

At the other end of Popp’s Ferry Road in D’Iberville, work also is scheduled to start in fiscal year 2018 on the realignment of the road from Belle Street to Galleria Parkway/D’Iberville Boulevard. This work would make traffic smoother near the proposed Galleria shopping center.

Scheduled for construction next year is widening Hospital Road from U.S. 90 to Old Mobile Highway, along with widening Airport Road in Gulfport.

Castleberry said these are important projects to allow better flow of traffic through the South Mississippi corridor.

MDOT updates its Transportation Plan every two years.

This story was originally published December 11, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Finally, Popp’s Ferry Extension has start date for construction."