OCEAN SPRINGS, MS

New sidewalks, parking aid motorists, pedestrians – and local merchants

Neel-Schaffer provided engineering design services for a ¼-mile roadway reconstruction project aimed at making Porter Avenue in Ocean Springs, MS, more accessible for motorists and pedestrians.

Porter Avenue serves as a main connection between US 90 at the Ocean Springs beachfront to downtown. The existing open shoulder roadway was deteriorating, in part due to drainage deficiencies, and did not have pedestrian accommodations. It’s situated in a rapidly growing commercial section of Ocean Springs, with several businesses in the area. As such, extensive consideration was given to construction phasing for motorists and pedestrians in order to lessen the impact during construction.

The $1.2 million project incorporated 20-foot wide roadway with curb and gutter, underground drainage, relocation and reconstruction of sewer infrastructure, utility upgrades, 28 on-street parking stalls and 1,200 feet of 5-foot wide sidewalks to better serve the public and businesses along the route.

Several businesses have opened or expanded since the project was completed, taking advantage of the more accessible roadway, sidewalks, and parking.

The new curb and gutter section was right-sized to accommodate the traffic and fit within the right-of-way secured by the City. This project provides a vital pedestrian link between the US 90 bridge and beachfront walkway to downtown.

This project was funded by the Mississippi Department of Transportation’s LPA program.