Portion of Front Beach in Ocean Springs closed for repairs

A portion of Front Beach Drive in Ocean Springs is closed right now for repairs.

Ocean Springs resident Zach Schenk said, “Looking at the water and enjoying walking here, it’s pretty peaceful and everything.”

Monday morning, Zach and his dog Zay enjoyed a stroll along Front Beach in Ocean Springs. The pedestrian path and drive are used heavily by residents and tourists because of its scenic views.

Recently, Front Beach underwent an erosion control project and now the city is focusing on repairs to Front Beach Drive. The portion between the Ocean Springs Yacht Club and Hillendale will be closed daily from 7 a.m. until 5:30 for repairs.

The purpose behind the closure is to lift and level the uneven concrete panels. Instead of replacing and repaving the roadways, they’ll be fixed using hydro foam, which is injected underneath the concrete. Josh Drummond with Coast Lift and Level said, “It’s a great product. We use it from lifting houses to trip hazards to streets. It’s made to set up in water. You can shoot it out here in the water. It’s approved by the EPA so it’s environmentally friendly. It will set up immediately in any kind of wet conditions.”

Using hydro foam is more cost effective and once the area has been injected, the area is immediately ready for use. This portion of the road closure is expected to be done by the end of January. Once it’s complete, crews will continue repairing sections of Front Beach until the entire road is leveled. “The drive is a little bumpy on Front Beach, but it’s nice. With the work they’re doing it’ll be a smoother drive.”

There’s no estimate yet for when the entire roadway will be leveled. That depends on the amount of damage in each section, which will not be known until that work is started.