Bridge stirs up troubled water

Cities, shipping, groups weigh in

By RYAN LaFONTAINE
rlafontaine@sunherald.com

BILOXI --

Almost as soon as plans were unveiled for a new high-rise bridge over Biloxi's Back Bay, the public debate erupted. And it was loud and fierce.

In November 2005, a week after the state Department of Transportation finalized its plan to build a massive new U.S. 90 span, Ocean Springs Mayor Connie Moran blasted the project as "overkill."

Moran wrote a letter supporting the bridge Nov. 3, but three days later she was singing a new tune.

"It's not all about fast and big. It should be beautiful and something we're all proud of," Moran told The Associated Press.

MDOT's plan called for a new bridge, 93 feet high and 120 feet wide with six traffic lanes and four breakdown lanes, to replace the old four-lane drawbridge.

Moran said when MDOT planned the bridge the agency ignored designs created by urban planners from the Governor's Commission who were helping to revitalize the Coast.

The first-term Democrat said she feared the giant bridge would send motorists cruising right past her town instead of encouraging them to stop, visit and spend money. She then criticized MDOT for not listening to suggestions offered by the community.

The ideas from some of the nation's leading urban planners and local residents included pedestrian-friendly features and slower-moving traffic.

"I want a signature bridge, and I want it to be beautiful, one that can be used for postcards for Ocean Springs for the next 60 years," Moran told the Sun Herald.

Then there were several area conservation groups that called on MDOT to reconsider its bridge plan. They wanted a smaller bridge designed to slow the flow of traffic.

Wayne Brown, MDOT's southern district chief, said to build the bridge the state was using federal emergency money, which requires the new span to be rebuilt on the original footprint. In addition, he said there would have to be environmental work done to tweak the design and that would cause the project to drag on for years.

Moran crossed the bay to meet with Biloxi Mayor A.J. Holloway in an effort to get him on board with her smaller-bridge campaign. Moran said a four-lane bridge with two breakdown lanes would be sufficient.

Holloway agreed to discuss the idea with MDOT, but made no further commitment to Moran.

Biloxi is a casino town and it was no secret Holloway wanted a bridge built as quickly as possible to reconnect the peninsula and restabilize the gaming industry.

The Mississippi Renewal Forum's transportation committee backed Moran's suggestion of a four-lane bridge with two breakdown lanes.