OCEAN SPRINGS — After three months of detours and construction, the Davis Bayou Bridge on Hanshaw Road is set to reopen following the completion of emergency repairs.
The bridge closed March 5 when inspectors with the Mississippi Office of State Aid Road Construction discovered severe deterioration in its wooden support pilings. The damage, reportedly caused by marine borers, prompted an immediate shutdown.
On Wednesday, the city of Ocean Springs announced it had received state approval to reopen the bridge with crews planning to remove barricades later that afternoon. The statement said additional utility work will continue in the coming weeks and may require temporary single-lane closures.
According to Jackson County Road Manager Joe O’Neal, repairs were completed two weeks ahead of schedule and cost approximately $84,000, less than half of the original estimate.
“The process went a lot better than we thought,” O’Neal said.
He confirmed the bridge passed final inspection and is reopening without any posted weight limits, unlike before the closure. The repairs are expected to extend the life of the bridge by three to five years.
During that time, the city of Ocean Springs is expected to lead efforts toward a full replacement, but no official timeline has been set.
Sarah Harris, a project manager with the city, said a full replacement could likely cost around $2.5 million, though no official estimate has been finalized. She said the city is in the early stages of developing a plan. The first steps include securing funding, initiating procurement and hiring an engineer.
A city spokesperson said another notice will be issued once the bridge is fully reopened to traffic.
In the meantime, the city’s statement said residents can contact Harris with questions or concerns at 228-875-4236 or 228-875-4236.
About the bridge:
The Davis Bayou Bridge was originally built in 1991 and connects Old Spanish Trail to Bienville Boulevard, serving roughly 10,000 vehicles per day before its closure. School buses, emergency vehicles and delivery trucks rely on the crossing as a key route through Ocean Springs.
