Debris to be Transformed into Reef

The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) has awarded a contract that calls for the removal of concrete debris from damaged portions of the Pascagoula River Bridge at Interstate 10, following Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

L & A Contracting Company of Hattiesburg bid $250,000 for the debris removal contract, which also calls for the creation of a protective jetty reef at a designated site south of Deer Island. The debris had been placed along U.S. 90 at the Singing River Bridge of West Pascagoula River following the hurricane.

"This beneficial debris removal project will result in the creation of a protective barrier for Deer Island in the event of future storms," said District Six engineer Ricky Lee. He said the project should take approximately a month to complete.

All concrete remnants of the repairs of the eastbound lanes of the I-10 Bridge over the Pascagoula River will be placed on barges and shipped to the designated reef area for placement. The result will be an aesthetically pleasing reef, visible to marine vessels approximately two to five feet above the water.

"Finding a beneficial use of this storm damaged bridge is just another way MDOT is committed to the environmental habitat, protection of our coastline and the sportsmen of our state," said Ocean Springs project engineer Kelly Castleberry.

-MBJ