Dredging program now well underway

Dredging is underway at Point Cadet Marina this week, part of a $711,000, year-long project that includes deepening of the Sherman L. Canaan Back Bay Fishing Dock, and canals at Hiller Park and three areas north of the bay, off Mercedes, North Haven and Holly Hills drives.

The work, which began in August and is being performed by the firm J.E. Borries, will double the depth of water in areas.

The Canaan fishing dock, at the north end of Lee Street, is home to more than two dozen  huge steel-hulled shrimp trawlers, has already been deepened to six feet as part of the project. Some of the areas of the dock had been as shallow as two feet.

Point Cadet Marina, home to more than a hundred pleasure craft and charter boats, will be deepened to 7.5 feet from its current depth of 4.5 feet in some areas.

The Hiller Park canal, where a popular boat launch is located, will be deepened to four feet, up from its current depth of two feet in some areas, and the canals at Mercedes, North Haven and Holly Hills, which also are now at two feet, will be deepened to four feet as well.

Funding was unavailable for dredging at several other areas: canals off Sunrise, Illing, Mulberry and Michelle drives, and waterways at Goosepointe, Lakeview, Fairview and Parkview drives.

Said Engineering Director Christy LeBatard, whose department is overseeing the work: “We are planning to do more in the future, as we continue to apply for Tidelands funding to pay for it. The next Tidelands grant will cover the areas that we didn’t fund this time, and then we’ll start to look for other areas after those are done.”
See video of dredging at Point Cadet Marina
See background and original map of dredging plan

 

Division Street exit to close Thursday, Friday

Oscar Renda Contracting, the firm responsible for the infrastructure work in east Biloxi, announced today that the I-110 exit at Division Street will be closed to southbound motorists Thursday and Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Electronic messageboards will be positioned on the interstate to remind southbound motorists of the closed exit. Oscar Renda is a couple of weeks away from repaving the section of Division Street at I-110.
See this month’s video update
See the status of roadwork citywide

 

News ‘n’ notes: Barrett on ‘City Desk’, Council images, Cops & Donuts, band festival

City Desk: Nathan Barrett, the freshman member of the Biloxi City Council discusses the issues facing Woolmarket and the city in general in this week’s City Desk podcast. To listen to his thoughts in a program taped this afternoon at City Hall, click here

City council meeting:  The Biloxi City Council met on Tuesday at Biloxi City Hall and discussed more than two dozen items.  To see images from the meeting, click here

Cops and donuts:  As part of a Special Olympics fundraiser, the Law Enforcement Torch Run For Special Olympics Mississippi has teamed up with Dunkin’ Donut to present Cops on Donut Shops on Friday.  Police officers will be at both of the Dunkin’ Donuts shops, Cedar Lake Road and Pass Road,  from 5 to 11 a.m. to collect donations for the Special Olympics.  To see the flyer, click here.  

High School band invitational:  Biloxi High School Band and Band Booster will be part of the twenty-three bands that perform in the 6th annual Gulf Coast Invitational Marching Band Festival and Competition on Saturday, Sept. 30 at the Biloxi High Indian Stadium.  Admission is $10 for an all-day pass and free for ages five and younger.  For more information, call 228- 234-5975.