Long-delayed South MS road project expected to cost more, finish even later
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- $1M and 43 workdays added to widen Martin Bluff Road through Oct. 2025
- Delays stem from drainage issues, wet conditions and engineering setbacks
- Funding sourced from city, federal earmarks, MDOT and regional commission
More than $1 million was added to the Martin Bluff Road widening project budget, along with a request for at least 43 additional working days, a representative of the engineering firm said during Tuesday’s Gautier City Council meeting.
The project, originally scheduled for completion in mid-2023, has stretched two years beyond that. The number of working days has ballooned from 208 to more than 580.
Gautier Mayor Casey Vaughan said crews expect to finish the project by October, barring unforeseen issues or weather delays.
“To say this project has been hiccups after hiccups is an understatement,” Vaughan said.
The Mississippi Department of Transportation must approve the request for additional working days before the Gautier City Council can sign off.
A working day often excludes rain days, weekends and holidays.
“I want to reassure our residents that both the city and our local contractor, Gulf Breeze Construction Company, along with both engineering companies remain fully committed to completing this project,” Vaughan said. “We understand how important this project is to our community, and I know our citizens are just as eager to see it completed as we are.”
Martin Bluff Road is a main roadway that connects Gautier-Vancleave Road to Interstate 10 and extends to neighborhoods such as Hickory Hill.
Engineering firm Michael Baker International is working with local contractor Gulf Breeze Construction to expand the two-lane road into a curbed and shouldered roadway with a landscaped median and turn bays.
Gautier city officials brought in Seymour Engineering to help oversee the project.
The project’s funding comes from a patchwork of sources such as city funds, federal earmarks, Gulf Regional Planning Commission dollars and support from MDOT.
Slow going
Michael Baker International Project Engineer Kreg Overstreet said his crew is working to clean up dirty sidewalks on the construction site.
“I went through there today and I know it needs sweeping,” Overstreet said. “We’ll get with them and make sure that that gets done.”
Councilman Richard Jackson said that after visiting the construction site with Councilman Lorenzo Fuller, he didn’t think it was safe.
“There were pieces of cones scattered everywhere,” Jackson said. “People have been waiting years for this project. I know the citizens are anxious to get this finished and to beautify the area.”
Overstreet said delays are partly due to weather conditions, faulty materials and engineering-related issues.
“This site that we’ve got holds water and it tends to stay wet,” Overstreet said. “I know people get frustrated if they’re driving down the road and they don’t see anybody working, but usually it’s because the rain event was so intense that we’ve got a site that we really can’t get to the next day.”
“There are still some drainage concerns that were not adequately addressed in the initial engineering phase,” Vaughan said. “Our current engineering team is actively working on resolving those.”
Overstreet said the crew is working to install five drainage boxes on-site, which will assist with flooding. Following the installation of the drainage system, the crew will begin earthwork and paving.
Gulf Breeze Construction declined to comment on the ongoing construction.
Vaughan stressed swift communication between the engineering firm and City Manager Paula Yancey.
“We want the job completed,” Vaughan said. “I want everybody working together and so does this Council because the citizens ... want it done.”
