Four engineering firms, three from Jackson and one from Louisiana, have submitted proposals to the city for engineering and designing a proposed bypass road from U.S. 61 South to Halls Ferry Road.

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen Monday referred the proposals by EJEF Inc., Waggoner Engineering and Stantec, all of Jackson, and Linfield, Hunter & Junius Inc. of Metairie, La., to the committee appointed by Mayor George Flaggs Jr. for review and a recommendation. The proposals were not opened at Monday’s meeting and no cost estimates were given.

Flaggs has proposed building a bypass road, which the city officials refer to as the “south loop road,” to link U.S. 61 South to Halls Ferry Road to help relieve traffic on Halls Ferry Road, and provide access to the proposed sports complex to be built on the city’s property off Fisher Ferry Road. The bypass road is estimated to cost $10 million.

He initially indicated the road may tie into Dana Road, causing some residents on Dana Road and along its side streets to be concerned that Dana Road would be used for the bypass, but South Ward Alderman Alex Monosur told the residents Sept. 25 no decision has been made on the road’s location.

“We have no idea where this road is going,” Monsour told the residents during the September meeting. He said the board’s request for proposals for engineering firms involved feasibility studies, traffic studies and the design and engineering for the project.

The committee, he said, will recommend the firm that will do the work.

“Once we go through the process and get the RFPs in and we proceed, we’ll be able to communicate better,” he said. “Without that information coming forward, we’re really just sitting there wondering what’s going to happen now.”

In another matter, the board authorized city clerk Walter Osborne to advertise for bids for drainage work in the Kings community.

North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield said work involves cleaning ditches and drainage culverts under North Washington Street, which have been silted up and blocked from sand and soil and debris from runoff during heavy rains.

“That includes drainage ditches on Hutson Street and Thompson Lake Road all the way to the railroad trestle,” he said. “Once we get all that cleaned out, barring another 10-inch rain, we should be able to start a maintenance program to keep them clean.”
Drainage has been a problem in the Kings community, because the area’s ditches and culverts fill up with silt and soil from runoff from the bluffs on the east side of North Washington, causing water to backup and cross the road to the west side of North Washington and blocking the Kansas City Southern trestles with debris, preventing water from getting out of the area.