The Popp’s Ferry causeway park project, still on track for its April 2018 completion, will take on a new look this week as contractors will be installing the bait shop’s royal blue metal roof.
The bait shop, a 1,000-square-foot structure that is elevated 18 feet above the ground, is one of the most imposing features of the nearly $3 million project being built on 10 acres of city land immediately west of the Popp’s Ferry bridge. Besides the bait shop, the project includes upgrades to existing boat launches, the addition of kayak launches and rentals, a waterfront boardwalk and marsh overwalk, an open-air interpretive center, and nature trails featuring signs that explain native plants.
Charlie Dellenger of Seymour Engineering reports that the bait shop’s interior and electrical components have been roughed in, and a handicap ramp for the bait shop is under construction. Installation of the shop’s air-conditioning and heating system is also planned this week.
The contractor on the project, DCD Construction, plans to begin working on the roof of the nearby open-air interpretive center in a couple of weeks, weather permitting, and install the adjacent walking path.
About three-quarters of the waterfront concrete boardwalks are installed, Dellenger said, and foundations for site lighting are in place. About 90 percent of the elevated boardwalk substructure is complete and the composite decking is being installed on the completed sections.
Spotlight on Popp’s Ferry: Staff from the city’s Engineering Department will have a booth set up at the 2017 Restoration Summit Tuesday at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center. The public will be able to visit the informational booth from 5 to 8:30 p.m. and see a video of progress, handouts and displays detailing the project timeline and amenities created by city staffer Jenneth Roberts.
Video: A bird’s eye view of the progress
See the Popp’s Ferry Causeway Park handout
See the Popp’s Ferry Causeway Park poster
Gallery: Popp’s Ferry Causeway Park
News and notes: Photos, monthly newsletter, departmental recap
Veterans Day images: To see more than a hundred images from the 17th annual Gulf Coast Veterans Day Parade, which rolled through downtown Biloxi Saturday morning, click here. To see a video of the Biloxi High school band, click here. To see a parade of troops passing Biloxi City Hall, click here.
Bmail monthly: The first issue of BmailMonthly hasn’t even been published yet, but the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has included news of the proposal on its website, courtesy of a story that originated with Hank Davis of WXXV News 25. To see the story on www.stltoday, click here. To learn more about the BmailMonthly idea, click here.
The week that was: Last week, the Fire Department answered 143 calls for service, including 91 medical emergencies and four fires; the Police Department handled 2,108 calls for service; the Community Development Department issued 34 building permits with a construction valuation of nearly $235,000; and the Engineering Department continued to progress on projects throughout the city. To see the reports covering last week, click here.
Dessert theater: Tickets are now available for the annual Biloxi High School Show Choir dessert theater and silent auction, scheduled for Dec. 7 at the Biloxi Civic Center. Starring in the program will be the show choir and dancers from Kelli’s Steps and Nancy’s School of Dance. To see a poster, click here.
