The inch-and-a-half of rain that fell in east Biloxi in the past 24 hours had contractors manning water pumps overnight and smoothing out potholes in dirt roads at daybreak this morning, and Tuesday they’re looking to be laying asphalt on a half-dozen neighborhood streets north of Division Street.
While some Oscar Renda Contracting crews were using heavy equipment this morning to grade the water-logged portions of Division Street, others were pouring concrete curbs on Holley, Bowen, Roy, Wink, Garic and Fallo streets, where asphalt will be going down beginning at 7 Tuesday morning.
And today on Division Street, just west of Crawford Street, AT&T workers were moving underground fiber optic lines, a task that has been four months in the making, so that more asphalt could be laid on Division.
“It’s been a long night,” said Oscar Renda Superintendent John Cowart, whose company brought in extra water pumps for such areas as Division, Santini, Crawford and Lee, in some cases to no avail.
“The fact is,” Cowart said, “these are low-lying areas, and when we have rainfall they are going to drain slowly. On high tide, there literally is no place for us to pump the water. We are a tidally influenced community, and, of course, not having pavement on the roads just exacerbates the situation.”
The weather office at Keesler Air Force Base reports that 1.69 inches of rain fell in the past 24 hours, with 1.51 inches between 3 and 6 p.m. Sunday alone.
See aerial video from East Biloxi this morning
See the latest video progress report, taped Friday
Cedar Lake north of I-10 now open to traffic
Cedar Lake Road, north of Interstate 10, which had been closed for weeks for a major sewer installation project, is now open to traffic. The closure, which included the Cedar Lake bridge, had forced motorists to take a mile-long detour.
“Considering the contractor faced two long rainy periods while working to install sewer manholes and lines under and along Cedar Lake Road, we’re pleased with today’s opening,” said Ed Ott, a city engineer who has been overseeing the work for the city.
Added Ott: “The overall project remains on schedule, and city representatives and inspectors with A. Garner Russell and Associates will continue to remind contractor Jay Bearden Construction and Bearden’s subcontractor, Ruiz Construction, that maintenance of the limestone portions of Cedar Lake Road should be performed daily.”
News and notes
Activity last week: To see what key building permit was issued last week by the city’s Community Development Department and to read a recap of the activities in the Police and Fire departments, click here.
Christmas this week: Christmas festivities continue this week in Biloxi. To see the updated list of activities, click here.
City Council meeting: For a preview of the City Council meeting on Tuesday, click here.
