City to consider south contract, temporary paving

Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich on Friday will be asking the Biloxi City Council to move forward with infrastructure work south of the CSX railway and to spend city money to temporarily pave major thoroughfares in the current construction zone north of the railway.

Gilich has called a special meeting of the council for Friday at 10 a.m. The meeting will be at City Hall and is open to the public.

The mayor is asking councilmembers to reject an apparent low bid submitted by Oscar Renda Contrating and allow the administration time to negotiate with the second-low bidder, Hemphill Construction, for the federally funded infrastructure repair and replacement work south of the CSX railway, essentially from west of I-110 to Point Cadet.

The city maintains that Oscar Renda’s $82.9 million failed to include state-mandated information. Hemphill’s bid was for $93.7 million.

Gilich also will be asking councilmembers to authorize up to $600,000 to temporarily pave Main, Division, Reynoir and Lee streets, along with Seal Avenue and Hopkins Boulevard.

Residents and businessowners have complained about the condition of many of the 55 miles of roads that were milled by contactor Oscar Renda as part of the three-year, $117 million project to repair or replace Katrina-damaged infrastructure in east Biloxi.

Said Gilich: “We’re going to take this $600,000 and do as many of the major thoroughfares as we can in the work area and other streets that need attention across the city.”
See the agenda and supporting documents for the meeting Friday
Learn more about the infrastructure program

 

Section of Popp’s Ferry Road to close Saturday

Popp’s Ferry Road east of Cedar Lake Road will be closed Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to allow contactors to install underground utilities as part of the widening of Popp’s Ferry Road.

The work will be taking place between Motsie Road and Ellington Drive; motorists are advised to use Brodie Road as an alternate route.

The closure is part of a work that this summer will see a four-lane boulevard created in the mile-long stretch of Popp’s Ferry Road between Cedar Lake and Lamey.

The travel lanes will go from two-way traffic covering 24 feet to four lanes of traffic covering 60 feet. A five-foot sidewalk will be constructed on the north side of the new Popp’s Ferry Road, and a 10-foot sidewalk will be constructed on the south side.

The $6.5 million project, funded mainly with Mississippi Department of Transportation funds administered through Gulf Regional Planning Commission, is expected to be completed in about nine months. The project was designed by the engineering firm Neel-Schaffer and is being constructed by Lane Construction.
See the detour route for Saturday

 

News and notes

Young Americans: Mayor Gilich had a treat for the Junior Leadership Gulf Coast class visiting City Hall Wednesday evening: After a briefing about city government, he walked the class of ninth graders through his office as they left the council chambers. To see photos from the gathering, click here.

Three Forks: The initial photo is in from the Biloxi firefighters’ Day 1 of relief work in the Three Forks community. To see the framed-up storage area constructed by the Biloxi volunteers, click here.

Honoring Tim Wold: Retiring FEB Distributing Director of Sales Tim Wold was taken aback during his retirement party Wednesday evening when Mayor Gilich surprised him with a Certificate of Appreciation for his support of community events for the past 28 yeas. See a photo of the mayor’s presentation by clicking here.