Print this story | E-mail story | This story has 26 comments Add your own | iPod friendly
photo by Vershal Hogan
Port Gibson residents have tied yellow crime scene tape around the base of oak trees lining Church Street to protest a proposed highway expansion.
Port Gibson burns
With anger, that is, over highway proposal
Published Saturday, April 5, 2008
PORT GIBSON — A proposal to develop U.S. 61 through the city Union forces declared was too beautiful to burn has some residents burning with anger.
The idea by the Mississippi Department of Transportation to widen U.S. 61 through Church Street, lined with historic homes and churches, may well kill Port Gibson, Church Street resident Jane Ellis said.
“We have a pretty good tourism industry here, but that is what we have left, our tourism,” Ellis said.
A member of the Highway 61 Committee, a group formed to fight the decision, Ellis said she believes having the highway pass through Church Street will damage both the historic oaks and antebellum homes and churches that line the street.
The proposal would widen the highway to go from curb to curb on Church Street, eliminating the street parking.
Church Street resident Jimmy Persons, who lives in a house his great-grandfather bought in the 1850s, is also against the decision.
“This area wasn’t designed to handle that kind of traffic,” Persons said. “It’s hard to cross the street as it is. Why would they four-lane it if they don’t expect an increase in traffic?”
A traffic study done by engineering group PBS&J determined just that — by the year 2032 the traffic along U.S. 61 will increase by 45 percent.
And that is why Port Gibson Mayor Fred Reeves wants a bypass built around the town.
“We are trying to preserve our historic district and change some areas in Port Gibson,” Reeves said.
If the bypass is built, it could mean more jobs for the community as businesses expand from downtown to the bypass area, Reeves said.
“If they built a bypass going in the easterly direction around the town, it would go right past the industrial park, which has four or five empty buildings in it,” he said. “Industry could move in the industrial park and use it to get to the main thoroughfare.”
Opponents to the bypass have said the city will die if the highway does not pass through it, but Reeves disagrees.
“Other towns have survived with bypasses,” he said. “Look at Vicksburg. Look at Natchez. They survived.”
Concerned citizens have tied crime tape around the trees on Church Street because “it would be a crime if anything was done to them,” Ellis said.
For Edna Montgomery, a member of the historic St. Peter African Methodist Episcopal Church, having the highway widened through the area has her concerned about safety.
“I guess we will have to step out into the highway out of the church door,” she said.
U.S. 61 runs from Wyoming, Minn., to New Orleans.
Comments
Posted by NtzMom55 (anonymous) on April 5, 2008 at 4:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It would be completely heartless to force the street expansion right through the heart of such an iconic historical town. Come on, Mississippi Department of Transportation, howabout using some common sence on this issue? A BYPASS IS THE ONLY REASONABLE SOLUTION.
Posted by olderthandirt (anonymous) on April 5, 2008 at 7:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It would be CRIMINAL to widen Church Street and destroy the charm of the main street of Port Gibson.Have the citizens had a vote in this matter? Remember, what Butch Brown wants, Butch Brown gets, to H--- with what is right. He is God or so he thinks.
Posted by dynagirl (anonymous) on April 5, 2008 at 7:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Go Port G! Too beautiful to burn, too beautiful to four-lane!
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on April 5, 2008 at 8:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How can they even think of doing that? Can we sign a petititon or join the protest somehow?
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on April 5, 2008 at 8:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I like Port Gibson. I do not understand why MDOT can't just ask the residents whatthey want in their town as far as highways are concerned....what a crock.
Posted by ntz143 (anonymous) on April 5, 2008 at 8:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A highway through the middle of town? That is the most asinine idea I have ever heard!!!! Are they planning on leaving the stoplights up? With as much highway $$ that Butch controls, surely they can build a by-pass. Those people need to get The Dept. of History and Archives, all those preservation groups to help them stop this! Which bozo at MDOT thought this plan up?
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on April 5, 2008 at 9 a.m. (Suggest removal)
No kidding, freedom. I think it would be a bad idea to touch Port Gibson's main street in any way. Tourism is the heart of this town. Deciding to destroy what the Yankees so generously left behind is like shooting oneself in the foot.
Posted by Boolos (anonymous) on April 5, 2008 at 9:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree olderthandirt
Don't let MDOT get away with this. I am sure it will cost more to go around Port Gibson. A great investment in the future for the community. Stand tall citizens of Port Gibson.
Posted by NoWireHangers (anonymous) on April 5, 2008 at 9:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If there a petition anywhere?
Posted by speakeasy (anonymous) on April 5, 2008 at 10:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Please check out the petition at www.thepetitionsite.com/1/save-port-gibs.... And, please sign the petition.
This petition will tell you more about what is really going on; gives some of the details about the illegality of this MDOT action:
"The MDOT is attempting to ignore federal laws by claiming it will build the project with only state funds and therefore the Department does not have to comply with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (Section 106). Ignoring the fact that the prior MDOT work was conducted under NEPA and Section 106 with federal dollars, the MDOT believes it does not have to satisfy the historical preservation concerns associated with a Church Street route. It has masked its efforts with numerous misleading explanations on why the Church Street route has been chosen."
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on April 5, 2008 at 10:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
When did they come through with anything that would have bothered out Tourism??? Shoot we all know that they would not have stood for that.....
Posted by JeffHornsby (anonymous) on April 5, 2008 at 10:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I would stand against expanding a highway, which would just increase traffic and congestion. If you increase a space, it will just fill to max and you really haven't solved the problem. Port Gibson is too beautiful to ruin. I visited Branson, MO a few years back. I loved the small town atmosphere and the beauty of the people and the countryside. I was saddened when I learned the Disney empire had been allowed to buy property there. All Disney wants to do is make money without any concern who they take it from. When I read this story, I went immediately back to this thought.
Posted by Hardcorps (anonymous) on April 5, 2008 at 10:44 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by lambchop (anonymous) on April 5, 2008 at 10:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I was listening to this on WLBT the other night. This is dreadful that the city would be destroyed by moving the highway through town. The name mentioned by WLBT was not Butch Brown but someone else in the highway department. Many of you don't like Butch because he made $$, but he has done much for Natchez during his Mayoral time and on MDOT. I can't believe people are so narrow minded or maybe it is just jealously. I am in no way a friend of his as he does not know me or me him personally. However, this story is not about Butch -- it is about a city. A beautiful city which has been going down in beauty as some of its citizens are not taking care to keep it beautiful. A 4-lane hway will not be in the best interest of the city. Traffic not wanting to go through a town should be able to bypass it. Port Gibson has things to offer the tourist and will pull those through it town; and truck drivers and long-haulers could bypass.
Good luck citizens of Port Gibson -- push hard for the bypass.
P.S. - I drive through there going to Vicksburg and don't stop usually. A bypass would be nice.
Posted by c_8512 (anonymous) on April 5, 2008 at 12:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
40 years ago, SS Prentiss Drive was a new by-pass to Natchez, but now it is the main drag. with all of the businesses that have popped up over the years, replacing the downtown businesses, this leaves no room for expansion nor repaving. look at the mess the Liberty Road bridge caused for two years; just so tourists can have a pretty landscape to look at when they come off of the Natchez Trace. People who are passing through would rather have as little interuption as possible to get to where they are going, and since Natchez is the only means to get across the river within eighty miles north or south, they have to put up with the congested Natchez traffic.
If the MDOT is planning to build a new four lane highway at Port Gibson, they really need to think about building around the town instead of creating a future traffic jam. The four lane by-passing Fayette is wonderful, if someone wants to see what Fayette looks like, there are three exit turns along the way. Those of us who would rather keep driving enjoy the by-pass. It should be done the same way at Port Gibson also.
Posted by southernbelle (anonymous) on April 5, 2008 at 3:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Surely they jest !
Posted by mike8427 (anonymous) on April 5, 2008 at 5:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Butch Brown spent alot of time devolping downtown Natchez the right way, so I dont think this idea is his. He is very understanding of historic preservation, so I doubt he has come up with the idea. It was probably the city govt that proposed it, and MDOT followed with a proposition.
Posted by NitaRobinson (anonymous) on April 5, 2008 at 5:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Even Fayette got a bypass many years ago. What are the folks at MDOT thinking ? It is not safe for the townspeople and Church Street community and a stupid nuisance for truckers and other highway traffic.
Posted by dmackZuluking (anonymous) on April 5, 2008 at 6:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The confederate citizens on Church St will someday embrace progress, the same as Beverly Hills, CA.
Posted by JasoninMemphis (anonymous) on April 5, 2008 at 8:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't know what the print edition headline said....but that's a very bad headline.
Port Gibson burns? I mean are we back in the Civil War or what?
Posted by NatchezEnema (anonymous) on April 5, 2008 at 8:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hell, if the people want a bypass give it to them! I wouldn't want to mess up the street either. This is a double edged sword though. Ask the goverment of Fayette what it did to their finances after the bypass was built around the city.
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on April 5, 2008 at 11:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have just signed the petition for the Taxpayers of Port Gibson! Very easy to do, it is user friendly. Get Involved! Don't let the politicians ruin this beautiful town! Contact the Governor's office also!
Posted by picture_music101 (anonymous) on April 5, 2008 at 11:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You go citizens!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Keep what is wrightfull yours dont let no man take your land!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Fight Fight Fight!!!
Posted by ladymax (anonymous) on April 6, 2008 at 12:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
maxineincalifornia by way of mississipi
very bad idea. someone is bound to get hurt
Posted by trulyblessed (anonymous) on April 6, 2008 at 12:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I feel that the MDOT should try repairing some of the highways that are already in dire need of restoration instead of desroying Church street. I don't know about everyone else, but Seargent Prentiss has been a mess from the beginning. The street is still congested during morning hours and people have a tendency drive even more careless than before. Everyday someone pulls out in front of me or lane jump without signaling.
Posted by lambchop (anonymous) on April 6, 2008 at 12:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hardcorps, you probably will not see this, but I did not have anything to do with your remarks being removed. It states, removed by ND Staff --- If you said something that was controversial or just plain bad taste - it needed to be removed, just don't blame me.
Fayette had problems before the bypass was built. It, like Ferriday is now, was a traffic trap - more tickets were issued there as it was probably there major revenue. The bypass did allow those of us who traveled that way frequently not to have to drive with fear of getting a ticket.
The Liberty Road/Natchez Trace work was very necessary. The bridge had been hit numerous times. I live near and traveled every day. The "put-out" was temporary and did not cause me any stress. It was well worth the wait and it really looks beautiful. Our city needs these improvements as well as its citizens. Why do you all gripe so much. Can't you find the positive in it all. Satan surely has his hold on many of you -- many are just plain spiteful.
Have a wonderful Sunday! and God bless you all.
Post a comment (Terms of Use Policy)
(Requires free registration.)