By McKenna Klamm, RHCJC and Justin Glowacki, RHCJC | Originally published by Mississippi Today
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GULFPORT — Gulfport plans to break ground this month on a $54 million road project that would give drivers another way across Interstate 10. City officials say it would improve traffic flow and emergency access, while environmental advocates raise concerns about wetlands and flooding.
The Interconnecting Gulfport project would build an overpass west of U.S. Highway 49, connecting the Airport Road area south of I-10 with Daniel Boulevard to the north. The route would also provide another entrance and exit for Gulfport Premium Outlets.
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality approved two state-level authorizations in May. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also lists a federal permit issued with special conditions June 12.
The city awarded Cotton Creek Transport Inc. a construction contract in September, with completion required by May 2029.
What will change for drivers
Plans include two roundabouts, connecting roads, drainage improvements, lighting, sidewalks and access for bicyclists and pedestrians.
City officials say the road would improve emergency response and provide another evacuation route during hurricanes.
Engineers considered several routes before selecting the current alignment. According to a 2022 environmental assessment, an earlier option was eliminated because of conflicts with existing infrastructure, right-of-way limitations and environmental restrictions.
Some residents hope the project will ease congestion around Highway 49 and I-10.
“It’s honestly a good idea. It’d probably clear up a lot of the congestion in that area,” said Quintana, who has lived in the Gulfport-Biloxi area for 14 years.
Vehicles travel through an intersection along U.S. Highway 49 in Gulfport. The city’s $54 million Interconnecting Gulfport project aims to reduce traffic congestion and improve emergency access by providing another route across Interstate 10. Credit: RHCJC News
Gulfport resident J.E. Lawrence said afternoon traffic can make travel difficult.
“It’d be beneficial for all of our residents if we could do this from the 49 to I-10 aspect. Putting an (overpass) in could alleviate a lot of the traffic problems that we see, especially from Airport Road to, say, around the Crossroads Mall area. It’s very congested there during the day, especially at 5 o’clock when everybody’s getting off work,” Lawrence said.
What the traffic study shows
A traffic analysis by engineering firm Neel-Schaffer compared projected conditions in 2045 with and without the new road.
The study projected improvements in some areas but found that certain intersections could still experience significant delays.
At Highway 49 and Airport Road, traffic conditions were projected to worsen by 2045 whether or not the project is built.
It has not been confirmed whether the projections were updated following subsequent design changes.
Wetlands and flooding concerns
The project’s potential effects on wetlands and nearby neighborhoods have drawn opposition from the Education, Economics, Environmental, Climate and Health Organization, known as EEECHO.
Katherine Egland, the organization’s co-founder and deputy executive director, said the group favors another route and has concerns about flooding.
“I’m all about economic advancement, but this does not have to be at the expense of the environment,” Egland said.
Egland said EEECHO has also sought an explanation from city leaders about their choice of route.
“We’ve asked the former mayor and the current mayor for a meeting to help better understand why they would select this road over much better alternatives, and they have declined to meet with us to explain why,” Egland said.
A sign directs drivers to Gulfport Premium Outlets, which would gain an additional entrance and exit through the proposed Interconnecting Gulfport road project. Credit: RHCJC News
The project’s 2022 environmental assessment documents public concerns about flooding and effects on nearby communities, including Forest Heights.
The Federal Highway Administration issued a finding of no significant impact for the selected route in 2022, determining that a more extensive environmental impact statement was not required.
In May, the city said it had enlarged a planned detention pond to manage heavy rainfall, increasing the estimated wetlands impact from 66 acres to 98.3 acres.
City officials said engineering analyses projected improved drainage and reduced flooding risks from rainfall runoff. The detention system is not intended to protect against coastal storm surge.
The city provided information about the construction contract and planned groundbreaking but has not responded to follow-up questions, including whether drainage projections were updated following the design changes.
