Porter Avenue infrastructure improvement project

Construction has been ongoing in Ocean Springs on Porter Avenue since December 2017.

However, the $1.2 million infrastructure project is now paused after crews working on the street discovered an unmarked natural gas line. Work will be suspended to allow the gas main to be relocated.

Moving the gas line will help to avoid future conflicts with water and sewer mains and will reduce any utility conflicts in the area that could hinder maintenance or future improvements. Ocean Springs Planning Administrator Carolyn Martin said, “In the old part of town we always expect to find things where we don’t know they are, but this gas line needed to be completely relocated to allow for the water sewer. Apparently, it’s a really old gas line and it is steel so it takes a certified crew to move it. So, we are waiting on them to schedule that. Last word is hopefully they would have it scheduled for early next week depending on weather and take between two to four weeks to complete.”

With the current utility delays, work is expected to continue through early summer.