Update on Popp’s Ferry Bridge and Plans to Solve the Problem

A continual traffic headache.

This is how city officials are describing the condition of Biloxi’s Popp’s Ferry Bridge, one of the Coast’s few north-south connecting corridors.

Commuters in the area know all too well the ongoing issues often faced when using the 41-year-old bridge and hurricane evacuation route—as evidenced lately with motorists experiencing four traffic-detouring issues in the past nine days.

Twice Tuesday, the bridge caused problems. Once when stuck in the upright position for more than an hour-and-a-half, and then for 10 minutes when the traffic bars got stuck.

Problems have been on the uptick recently as crews carry out a project that will bring the bridge’s old analog system to the current digital standards, at a cost of more than one million dollars.

But, overall, city leaders say help is on the way … at least in the next few years.

Renderings of a new bridge have been released, and Biloxi officials continue the process of obtaining the funding and green light to replace the bridge.

A federally-required environmental assessment has been completed, but construction and driving on a new bridge are still several years away, according to city leaders.