LU BEAUSOLEIL: Martin Bluff Road project redefines 'slow'

I see where Gautier city leaders are upset at the slow pace of progress on the widening of Martin Bluff Road. Join the club!

They say it could take a "few more years before the work is complete." I believe that's an unrealistically low estimate.

I have a copy of an article that appeared in the Gautier Independent on Jan. 9, 1992. That's 1992!

In the article, former supervisor Carroll Clifford said, "The county is in the process of buying the rights of way from property owners on both sides of the existing road ... the project, which has been in the works for two years, will not be completed for three to four years."

Houses along that road were purchased by the county, and residents moved out. Years later, the houses became occupied again. From whom were the houses purchased? Where did that money go? Tax money purchased the homes and the rights of way. Why were people permitted to purchase those houses when there was a "plan" in the works to widen the road?

The city of Gautier's leaders are upset. After nearly 25 years of waiting for Martin Bluff Road to be widened, those of us out in Hickory Hill are more than just upset.

I don't wish to blame the city of Gautier for the majority of the reasons there are delays. I would think, however, that in 25 years, the amount of property that must be acquired should be known, including the cultural studies, the environmental evaluations and the impact studies that should have been approved by now.

Someone needs to be held responsible for the delays. Fines need to be levied.

LU BEAUSOLEIL

Gautier

This story was originally published November 10, 2015 at 7:07 PM with the headline "LU BEAUSOLEIL: Martin Bluff Road project redefines 'slow' ."