Now that all of Back Bay Boulevard has been paved, offering an alternate route between I-110 and Point Cadet, construction workers and police are hearing a complaint that usually follows any newly minted street: Motorists are speeding.
Contractor Oscar Renda, which completed paving on the four-lane boulevard Monday, still has as many as two dozen construction workers and heavy machinery working on fill and landscaping in center and roadside medians, prompting intermittent lane closures and lane shifts on Back Bay Boulevard.
“We understand that everybody’s excited that this major roadway is open,” said John Cowart, project superintendent for Oscar Renda Contracting. “But we have to look out for the wellbeing of the workers in that area. We’re asking people to adhere to the 15 mph speed limit, which is in place on nearly all of the streets in east Biloxi.”
Infrastructure project managers and Public Works personnel have asked Biloxi Police to step up their presence on Back Bay Boulevard.
Workers wrapped up the last phase of base asphalt on Back Bay Boulevard between Boomtown Casino and Lee Street on Monday, meaning the two-mile boulevard is completely paved from I-110 all the way to Oak Street on Point Cadet. The route allows motorists to bypass the 55 miles of roadwork on most streets in east Biloxi.
“We’re as excited as everyone,” Cowart said, “but we need to avoid creating an unsafe situation. I know people will cooperate.”
Scenes from Back Bay Boulevard this afternoon
News and notes
Picture this: The city’s online photo archive, with thousands of images from hundreds of city events over the years, is now updated. To visit the archive, click here.
Special Needs Thanksgiving Dinner: The Parks and Recreation Department will hold a Thanksgiving dinner for individuals with special needs and their family. The dinner, taking place Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Donal Snyder Community Center, will include music and carnival games. To see the flyer, click here.
