East Biloxi residents one step closer to road relief

BILOXI, MS (WLOX) - When the city's largest infrastructure project in its history started in east Biloxi last year, residents were told it would take three years. What they didn't anticipate is that some of the major thoroughfares, like Main Street and Division Street, would be a huge mess for just as long.

"The reason I'm not driving now you see, all these roads. They come and mess up all the roads before the tracks and now people gotta mess up their new cars," said resident Zenas Richburg.

Residents, drivers, and business owners alike say the unpaved roads have led to pot holes, mud on rainy days, and clouds of dust when it's hot and dry. But soon some temporarily relief could be coming their way.

"This is a big deal, because it's about the quality of life in the community of east Biloxi. We have residents here who are enduring so much, and we want to give them some relief," said Councilman Felix Gines.

That relief could come in the form of $600,000 in paving work. A resolution is proposing to pave seven of the most heavily traveled roads in east Biloxi that are not currently being worked on.

"Help keep down the dust issue. Fewer and fewer vehicle problems in the community. There's been a lot of complaints about front end alignments and different things like that, so I think that's the bigger issue," said Gines.

According to Gines, it will be a year or longer before crews can finish fixing some of these main streets, so the only way to relieve drivers until then is to lay down temporary pavement.

"I look it as this is about our citizens. Citizens come first. That's who drives our economy. That's who drives Biloxi, and if we don't think of our citizens first, then what do we do?" Gines asked.

The $600,000 would come from the city's capital improvement funds, but Gines said there is a possibility they could be reimbursed for it through FEMA money.

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