HATTIESBURG, MS — Officials joined Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) Commissioner Charles Busby, Southern Transportation District, and Biloxi Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich to celebrate the start of construction on the Popp’s Ferry extension project, just south of the intersection of Popp’s Ferry Road and Pass Road in Biloxi, Mississippi.
“The need for this project has been evident for a long time. As is usually the case, the challenge of each infrastructure project lies in finding the right design and figuring out how to fund it,” Busby said. “MDOT is proud to have played a role in this project’s funding through the Local Public Agency program, which channels federal funding to cities and counties across the state and helps ensure high standards for engineering and construction are met.”
A project more than 30 years in the making, it calls for the construction of an approximately 1.5-mile, four-lane boulevard connecting Popp’s Ferry from Pass Road to U.S. 90 in Biloxi. This extension will provide an essential, north-south link from a major U.S. highway, across the Biloxi Bay to a nearly direct connection to I-10. It includes new signalized intersections, construction of a new Mississippi Coast Coliseum access road, as well as the installation of a gated rail crossing, roadway lighting, and sidewalks.
“The project has been a top priority for Biloxi since I took office,” Gilich said. “Working with MDOT and with the help of State Representative Kevin Felsher, State Senator Scott Delano, and the Harrison County Board of Supervisors, along with the city’s 2022 Bond Issue, we secured the funding and approvals to make this $20.8 million project happen.”
The Popp’s Ferry extension project is expected to aid in hurricane evacuations, relieve congestion, enhance pedestrian safety, and improve traffic flow at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center. Additionally, the new corridor opens up potential for economic development, and more businesses are expected to follow.
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With a total project cost of $31.6 million, the project includes approximately $14 million in federal funds with additional funding provided by the Mississippi Legislature, Harrison County, and the City of Biloxi. Neel-Schaffer provided design, engineering, and other preconstruction services for the project. The $20.8 million construction contract was recently awarded to Necaise Brothers Construction, and the project is estimated to be complete by the end of 2026.
