Construction resumes on boardwalk in Bay St. Louis

BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. (WXXV)- Construction is set to resume on the Bay St. Louis boardwalk next week.

The project centers on extending the now ADA accessible boardwalk another five to six hundred feet.

Jakira Hunt with the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center explains what the project will look like.

This scour pad that runs alongside downtown Bay St. Louis is part of the coastal city’s storm surge defense infrastructure.

While it was never meant for pedestrians, many locals use it as a walkway.

Now, Chiniche Surveying and Engineering is working with Bay. St Louis officials to build a boardwalk on top of the scour pad, providing a better downtown experience for locals and tourists alike.

Jason Chiniche, the principal engineer overseeing the project, says the boardwalk will better connect the downtown area with the beach. “The overall concept is to have a walkable pathway from the harbor to Ulman Avenue and then back down on top of the sand beach back to the harbor.”

The project is being completed in four phases, with phase one and parts of phase two ready for public use.

When the project is finished, it will include multiple ADA access ramps to the beach, a low pier near a firepit, and a boardwalk that starts near Main Street and runs to Ulman avenue.

Chiniche says integration with local businesses was a focal point of the project. “We designed the handrails and the cable rail system so that it doesn’t block any views from the restaurants. The restaurants are provided access so that you can maneuver from each restaurant a lot easier.”

David Treutel, a long-time resident of Bay St. Louis, is looking forward to having better access to the beach. “As I get older, I appreciate these ADA ramps and ability to get down and see the beach.”

The completed boardwalk will have benches and picnic tables, making it a space for exercise, eating out at the local restaurants, and more.  “If you have more amenities that allow you to be outside and enjoy the beautiful views we have here, it can be nothing but positive.”

All four phases of construction should be completed by Fall 2027.