Multi-use path expansion in Jackson County

Jackson County recently was approved for infrastructure expansion by the federal government.

$9.6 million has been approved for a multi-use path along the Highway 90 corridor to better connect the cities of Gautier and Ocean Springs along an eight-mile stretch.

The pathway will be a community enhancement and will help keep pedestrians and cyclists safe. $10.1 million out of $3.3 billion has been awarded to the state of Mississippi through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.

The funding comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, aiming to reconnect communities. Supervisor Troy Ross said, “This project started many years ago when we developed a comprehensive plan for increasing walkability and biking throughout the Jackson County area. And the ultimate goal was to actually connect with other local counties and municipalities and go across the entire Coast.”

Gautier Mayor Casey Vaughan said, “That will benefit not only the citizens of Gautier and Ocean Springs and Jackson County, but to any of our guests that come here and visit.”

“And this is the fruit being born from that project that we started maybe seven-eight years ago.”

The pathway project will compliment a $60 million Highway 90 lane expansion from Highway 609 to Dolphin Drive in Gautier. “The project to widen Highway 90 through Ocean Springs into Gautier is already in the beginning phases where it’s going to start rolling along a little bit quicker. So as that rolls along, this will be tied into that project. It will probably all be one big project.”

MDOT officials say they expect the project to get underway late fall or early 2025. Supervisor Troy Ross says his long-range plan is to have a walkable path to cross the Mississippi Coast.