A washout on Angler Drive in The Woods Subdivision is taking longer to repair than initially expected to repair.
City of Picayune Public Works Director Eric Morris said the construction crew working to fix the washout has encountered some unforeseen delays.
The original plan entailed about 3 to 5 days of work. The washout occurred after heavy rains that fell about two weeks ago. Those rains brought so much rain to the area, that a culvert running under the road near the lake failed, leading to a section of the road being washed away, creating a very large and deep pothole.
Residents in the area put pool noodles in the hole to alert drivers to the danger until city officials officially closed the road later that day.
The road has been closed ever since.
Morris said he has been in touch with the contractor, who feels a more accurate timeline to complete the repairs and allow the road to reopen is by the middle of this coming week.
Once the road is reopened, it will be unfinished but fit for temporary traffic. Morris said there will be limestone on the road for about two to three weeks while traffic packs the rock down. When the road base has been secured, then asphalt will be added once again.
Repair work will add some features to ensure a washout does not occur in the area again. Morris said the crew is adding concrete splash pads to both sides of the culvert, essentially encasing the exposed areas of it in the sturdy substance.
“This will be a much more suitable drainage culvert than what was here,” Morris said.
The expected date to reopen the road is May 18, with another closure to take place when the road is ready for asphalt installation.
If anyone has questions about the work, they can contact the office of Public Works at 601-799-0602.