Senate Bill 2790

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 65-39-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ADD CERTAIN PROJECTS TO THE GAMING COUNTIES STATE-ASSISTED INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM; TO ESTABLISH THE PRIORITY OF PROJECTS IN SUCH PROGRAM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 65-39-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

65-39-1. (1) The Mississippi Transportation Commission is authorized, subject to the availability of funds in the Gaming Counties State-Assisted Infrastructure Fund created in Section 65-39-17, to conduct feasibility studies and, pursuant to information gathered in such studies, select routes and locations, perform preliminary engineering, acquire necessary right-of-way and property, construct and/or reconstruct and improve existing or new highways, roads, streets and bridges, including two-lane, four-lane and multi-lane roads (or segments thereof), perform intersection improvements, provide signal retiring, turnbay extensions, additional interchanges and other traffic modifications, within and approaching those counties in this state where legal gaming is being conducted or is authorized. Any highway, road, street or bridge that is authorized to be constructed, reconstructed or improved shall meet design standards established by the Mississippi Department of Transportation, shall be constructed to bear a load limit of at least eighty thousand (80,000) pounds and, upon completion, shall become a part of the state highway system, and thereafter shall be under the jurisdiction of the Mississippi Transportation Commission and the Mississippi Department of Transportation for construction and maintenance.

(2) The projects authorized in subsection (1) of this section shall include, but shall not be limited to, highways, roads, streets and bridges on and along the following locations and, except as otherwise provided for in this section, in the following order of priority:

(a) Beginning at the Interstate 10 Canal Road interchange (Exit 31), then in a southeasterly direction to a point near the intersection of 28th Street and 30th Avenue in Gulfport, and then in a southeasterly direction to a point adjacent to the west side of the Kansas City Southern railroad line near 28th Street and then southerly adjacent to the Kansas City Southern railroad line across U.S. Highway 90 to the State Port at Gulfport.

(b) Beginning at the Interstate 10 Woolmarket Road interchange (Exit 41) then in a southeasterly direction across the Tchoutabouffa River continuing south across the Back Bay of Biloxi to a point near Hiller Park and then in a southerly direction terminating at grade at U.S. Highway 90.

(c) Beginning at the Interstate 10 Red Creek Road interchange (Exit 28) in a southerly direction along the Red Creek Road and Espy Avenue route where practical to an intersection with U.S. Highway 90.

(d) Construction of a new Interstate 10 interchange between the I-110 interchange (Exit 46) and the Ocean Springs interchange (Exit 50) and then from such new interchange in a southerly direction across the Back Bay of Biloxi to connect with the existing Oak Street Route and then to an intersection at grade with U.S. Highway 90.

(e) U.S. Highway 90 from its intersection with Mississippi 607 in Hancock County to Ocean Springs, and including Lakeshore Road in Hancock County from its intersection with U.S. Highway 90 to Beach Boulevard;

(f) Mississippi 4 from U.S. Highway 61 to Mississippi 3;

(g) Mississippi 4 from Mississippi 3 to Senatobia;

(h) Lorraine/Cowan Road from U.S. Highway 90 to I-10;

(i) U.S. Highway 49 from U.S. Highway 90 to I-10 in Gulfport;

(j) Mississippi 304 beginning at the Tennessee State Line at or near U.S. 72 and thence running in a southwesterly direction to intersect with U.S. 78 at or near Byhalia and thence running in a westerly direction to intersect I-55 at or near Hernando and thence running in a westerly direction to intersect with U.S. 61 in DeSoto County, with a spur extending southwesterly to or near Robinsonville in Tunica County;

(k) I-10 from Exit 28 to Exit 57;

(l) A new location from the northernmost point on I-110 to U.S. 49;

(m) U.S. Highway 61 from the Tunica County line to the Tennessee state line;

(n) (i) Four-lanes for traffic along Mississippi 16 beginning at its intersection with Mississippi 25 and extending easterly to join the existing four-lane on the west side of Carthage within the corporate boundaries;

(ii) Passing lanes and turn lanes, as needed, along Mississippi 16 beginning at a point on the east side of Carthage within the corporate boundaries where the existing

four-lane ends and extending easterly to the Leake/Neshoba county line; and

(iii) Four-lanes for traffic along Mississippi 16 beginning at the Leake/Neshoba county line and extending easterly to not more than ten (10) miles east of Mississippi 15;

(o) Lorraine/Cowan Road Extension from I-10 North to relocated/reconstructed Mississippi 67;

(p) At various locations on and along U.S. Highway 82 and Mississippi 1 in the City of Greenville;

(q) At various locations on and along I-20, U.S. Highway 61 and U.S. Highway 80 in the City of Vicksburg, including a truck route from Harbor Industrial Park to U.S. Highway 61 north and an extension of South Frontage Road with railroad bridge to Interstate Highway 20;

(r) At various locations on and along U.S. Highway 61, U.S. Highway 65 and Washington Street in the City of Natchez;

(s) At various locations on and along U.S. Highway 90 in the City of Pass Christian;

(t) Mississippi 43/603 beginning where the existing four-lane ends north of I-10 and extending northerly to a point approximately one (1) mile north of Kiln where Mississippi 43/603 divides into Mississippi 43 and Mississippi 603;

(u) Mississippi 43 beginning where Mississippi 43 and Mississippi 603 divide and extending northwesterly to or near

Picayune; and

(v) U.S. 49 from U.S. 61 west to the Mississippi River bridge.

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(3) * * * The projects described in paragraphs (2)(a), (b), (c) and (d) shall be constructed for four-lanes of traffic and shall utilize existing roads where practical.

(4) All planning, construction, reconstruction and performance of the projects authorized under this section, including the letting of contracts, shall commence, proceed and be performed by the Mississippi Transportation Commission and the Mississippi Department of Transportation according to the priorities provided for in subsection (2) of this section; provided, however, this priority shall not apply to segments authorized under this section for which any contract has been let.

(5) * * * Funds for the projects authorized under this section may be provided through the issuance of bonds under Sections 65-39-5 through 65-39-33, through the issuance of notes for such purposes under Section 31-17-127 or from such monies as may be available in the Gaming Counties State-Assisted Infrastructure Fund created under Section 65-39-17.

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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2002.