Mother Nature and Father Time have pushed back the closure of Shriners Boulevard to April 6 at 8 a.m.
The roadway was originally set to close on April 1 for drainage work but recent heavy rain impeded the completion of a temporary bypass road, which needs to be finished before contractors can close Shriners Boulevard.
“Weather is one of the top reasons for missed milestones in construction and with all the rain we have seen lately, construction delay was inevitable,” said Bobby Carson of the city’s Engineering Department. “Holidays also play a part and since April 2 is Good Friday and many businesses close for the holiday, April 6 was decided on as the new start date for the Shriners Boulevard work to begin.”
Work on Shriners Boulevard will take place along a small portion of the roadway, about 10 yards, where contractors will dig deep, installing two culverts – each 10-foot by six-foot tall by 58-foot long – six-feet deep.
The project is part of a $1.4 million drainage improvement plan that has recently seen work completed along Woolmarket Road to Old Highway 67 and soon the completion of a temporary detour route for local traffic only, no trucks, to accommodate businesses near the Shriners-Woolmarket intersection.
The project is expected to be complete in 60 days and the roadway is set to open to traffic on June 6 at 6 a.m., weather permitting.
See the detour map
See city wide road closures and traffic advisories
News & notes: Egg hunt, weekly report, First Friday
Scavenger hunt: The Biloxi Parks & Recreation Department hosted a Citywide Easter Scavenger Hunt on Saturday with nearly 100 participants scouting the city for Easter eggs filled with candy and prizes. To see images from the event, click here.
The week that was: Last week, the Fire Department answered 146 calls for service, including 105 medical emergencies; the Police Department handled 1,769 calls for service; and the Engineering Department continued to progress on projects throughout the city. To see the reports covering last week, click here.
First Friday: The Biloxi Main Street event, First Friday, continues this week with a block party Friday evening. The event takes place in downtown Biloxi from 4 to 9 p.m. along Rue Magnolia and on The District Green, the new park at 785 Howard Avenue. The affair will feature live music, food trucks, and after hour shopping at participating businesses. To see the flyer, click here.
