Proposed Highway 601 Routes

Feedback from Saucier residents

This is an open letter of feedback to MDOT from the residents of Saucier

The purpose of this letter is to bring to MDOT a unified community viewpoint so that MDOT can easily understand the views of the residents of Saucier and how they think the proposed routes of Highway 601 may impact the community as it passes through Saucier.

Introduction

The Saucier Improvement Association (SIA) was formed on April 4th, 2006 to represent the Saucier community as it grows and develops in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The SIA was formed out of a Steering Committee appointed by the Harrison County Board of Supervisors to explore and plan the future growth and development of unincorporated areas of Harrison County. Citizens of Saucier voted members onto the SIA board when the initial planning phase ended, creating a new community voice with the strong support of the citizens and the Board of Supervisors.

Saucier discusses Highway 601

Over the last several weeks, the SIA has organized a number of meetings inviting the citizens of Saucier to discuss Highway 601. On April 14th, MDOT was kind enough to send their representatives to explain the current situation and planned development process for Highway 601, and the proposed routes under consideration. Following that meeting, the SIA arranged a further public meeting where the citizens were invited to give their opinions on the route options and offer suggestions for alternative routes. Following is a summary of the feedback gleaned from that meeting, held on Monday April 24th 2006.

Vote on existing route proposals.

Approximately 130 people attended the meeting. Attendees were asked to vote on three options:-

Option 1 – H601 merges with H49 At a point between Jim Lee Road and West Wortham Road.

Option 2 – H601 merges with H49 approximately 0.5 miles south of the Saucier Town Center.

Option 3 – H601 merges with H49 approximately 1 mile south of Wiggins.

The vast majority voted for Option 1, with only a handful voting for Options 2 and 3.

Citizens were than asked to vote between option 1, Jim Lee Road, and Option 1a, West Wortham Road, with the majority selecting the more southerly route.

This gives an overwhelming preference for the proposed H601 merging with H49 as far south of Saucier as possible.

Alternative Route Suggestions

Several different alternative route suggestions have been proposed. These are summarized briefly here.

1, A more easterly road, merging with H15
2, 601 travels north to H53, then follows H53 north-west to merge with H59, eventually meeting H49 at Hattisburg
3, An other route that is significantly more westerly than Option 3 above.

A vote was taken, and an overwhelming majority of attendees were in favor of any route that is more westerly than any route currently under consideration. It should be stressed that no-one voiced support for any of these alternatives to take precedence over upgrading 49.

General comments

Following are specific written comments given to the SIA

1. “#3 would be okay. #1 and #2 would make 49 worse. #3 would take my house, but that is okay because Saucier has to grow.”
2. “Extend Canal Rd to 49 and 67 then widen 49 to 6-lane each way. Hwy 49 needed to be a 6-lane hwy to start with.”
3. “We live in the country for a reason. We do not want this road happening in our community. Fix the problems or issues with Hwy 49!”
4. “Use #3.”
5. We don’t like Phase #3 at Saucier Lizana Road. Hwy too close to Hwy 49 ad to close to a lot of old homes and people that have been here a long time.”

Other comments have come out of discussions:-

1. Highway 49 is very dangerous right now. As traffic volumes increase, it will only get worse. 49 should be upgraded and improved as a matter of priority for safety reasons.
2. The community has long expected 49 to be further upgraded. It is sad for those who would be directly disturbed by any upgrades, but the community feels fewer people in the community would be pushed out of their homes by 49 upgrades than by an entirely new highway cutting a swathe through the heart of Saucier.
3. The intersection of Saucier Lizana and H601 would threaten to take out several local businesses (Herrin’s Short Stop, West End Superette Cherokee Kennels, and others).
4. The Saucier-Lizana entersection would split the community into two.
5. Option 3 would threaten to damage our planned new Town Center development.
6. The SIA wishes to consult with MDOT over the best location for intersections, overpasses, underpasses etc around the Saucier Town Center development.
7. Plans to upgrade H49 to 6 lanes from Orange Grove north almost to Jim Lee Road begs for 49 upgrades to continue north to Saucier and beyond.
8. Concerns have been raised by the local volunteer fire department that upgrades to 49 to limited access would hamper access to many locations along 49.
9. Concerns have been raised about the schools in Saucier if 49 is upgraded – would the schools have to be relocated?
10. Upgrades to 49 could impact the new Town Center plans. Please consult with SIA in order to limit any impact to the Town Center.
11. Joe May reports that he lives on an Indian Mound. His location is in the path of Option 3. Contact details are available should you wish to confer with him.
12. A more westerly route would give better access to the western part of the south of the state for evacuation and safety (fire, ambulance, police) access.


Thank you for taking the time to consider these comments, which directly represent the views of several hundred Saucier residents over a number of meetings here in Saucier.

The SIA endorses the selection of upgrading H49 on safety and community viability grounds. We feel that this is the best solution for the future of our community, and we are confident that this is the overwhelming opinion of the residents.

Yours sincerely,

Steve Howard
Vice President
Saucier Community Improvement Association
Saucier, Mississippi

posted by Steve Howard @ 9:44 PM