New Group Makes Big Impression in Road Debate

From the Sun Herald Wednesday 12th April
By DON HAMMACK
dthammack@sunherald.com

SAUCIER - MDOT engineer Claiborne Barnwell was impressed with the turnout generated Tuesday night by the newly formed Saucier Community Improvement Association.

The topic was the proposed Mississippi 601, a four-lane, controlled-access divided highway that would start near Canal Road in Gulfport and connect to U.S. 49 somewhere south of Wiggins.

"To have this many people come to a meeting like this is somewhat overwhelming," he said, saying this was the biggest crowd he'd seen in eight years with the Mississippi Department of Transportation.

The overwhelming part actually came when some people from the nearly 200 households represented started the pointed questioning. Most asked why the existing north-south highway couldn't just be expanded.

"Let's improve Highway 49 instead of cutting Saucier to pieces," said Joe May, who implored many who'd begun trickling out after MDOT's audiovisual presentation to stay and write their comments.

Some voiced concern that their input wouldn't be considered if not filed by the April 17 deadline on comment sheets, but Barnwell said it would regardless.

Asked when a decision on the route would be made, he listed three possibilities: Winter 2006, this time next year or early 2007.

Current alternatives have Mississippi 601 meeting U.S. 49 near Wortham, just south of Saucier or just south of Wiggins. The latter especially concerned residents Tuesday night.

SCIA celebrated its one-week anniversary with its impressive and passionate turnout. Many stayed to pore over maps laid out and to talk with representatives from MDOT and URS, a major international engineering firm handling the study heading into the creation of an environmental-impact statement.

The SCIA formed after a board of supervisors steering committee worked with Ohio State University community planning students to come up with a plan for the burgeoning area. Using ideas similar to SmartCode, which many of the more urban areas of South Mississippi are instituting, Saucier wants to see most of its growth evolve in a town-center area and keep the majority of the community's rural setting.

"I think for a one-week-old organization, we've started out doing exactly what we're supposed to do," said SCIA President Wayne Jones.

posted by Steve Howard @ 10:06 PM