See the Cruisin’ the Coast website
Cruisin’ the Coast, the huge rolling car show that kicked off Sunday and runs through this Sunday, takes over downtown Biloxi Wednesday and has a salute to veterans on Friday at MGM Park.
“We actually began seeing cars roll in earlier this year,” Biloxi Police Chief John Miller said this morning. “The volume of cars and the number of RVs began to increase Sunday night, and we usually don’t see this many until mid-week, so we’re expecting a huge week in terms of traffic and people.”
The largest concentration of Cruisers, Cruisin’ cars and onlookers is expected Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in downtown Biloxi, when hundreds of cars are displayed on closed streets throughout the downtown area. The street party, with stages of live entertainment, food booths and discounts from downtown businesses, attracts thousands of spectators.
The city will cordon off a number of public parking lots for cruisers and a number of downtown streets, including Lameuse, Main, Jackson and Water will be closed to vehicles and dedicated to pedestrian traffic. (See a map.)
Then on Friday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. it’s the “Salute to Our Veterans,” where dozens of registered cruisin’ vehicles will be on display at MGM Park. The vehicles will line the warning track that rings American Star field inside MGM Park, and hundreds more will be positioned in the southbound lanes of Caillavet Street. Two-way traffic will be allowed on Caillavet’s two northbound lanes.
See a map of the downtown Cruisin’ setup
See Mayor Gilich’s postcard to downtown businesses
See the overall Cruisin’ schedule
OK, motorists, a few things to remember this week
“Please remember to be patient, very patient this week,” Biloxi Police Chief John Miller advises motorists who will be traveling Biloxi streets as thousands of Cruisin’ the Coast vehicles share the roadway. “Be sure to plan for heavy and slow-moving traffic, so give yourself plenty of time.”
Cruisin’ traffic picks up each day around noon on U.S. 90 and remains constant through mid-evening. Traffic is expected to increase into the weekend.
Miller said police officers will direct traffic as needed and U.S. 90 lefthand turning lanes may be closed to help keep traffic moving in peak times. He also reminds motorists to be aware that hundreds of spectators line U.S. 90, especially along West Beach, to watch cars parade by.
“People are here to have a good time, and we want everyone to have a good time and a safe time,” Miller said. “We also have to keep traffic moving in a safe manner.”
The week that was: Construction, fire and police
The Community Development Department issued $3.26 million in permits last week, including permits for a new Citizens Bank on Popp’s Ferry Road, a warehouse for Southern Supply Co. on Howard Avenue, and host of new businesses coming to Edgewater Village Shopping Center: Tuesday Morning, Hibbett Sports, and a T-Mobile Sales Center.
Meantime, the Biloxi Fire Department responded to 137 calls, including 98 medical emergencies and five fires, while the Biloxi Police Department reported 2,078 calls for service, leading to 116 arrests.
See the complete weekly report
News and notes
Paving aplenty: Oscar Renda Contracting, the firm responsible for the infrastructure work in east Biloxi, is paving on Back Bay Boulevard today and has released a schedule of other upcoming paving. To see a map and schedule, click here.
Fire and police: Did you make it to the Community Festival Against Crime Saturday at Point Cadet Plaza? If not, you should see what you missed. To view a collection of photos from the event, click here.
Baseball: The “Our Love Affair with Baseball” exhibition at the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art continues through November. In fact, WXXV-TV has even released a new commercial touting the exhibition. To see the new spot and to learn more about the exhibit, click here.
