On June 18, 1996, the Biloxi City Council was  presented with a study titled "VISION 2020 THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN." This study cost the taxpayers in excess of $160,000 and was derived  from input from citizens and planning experts.  The study, among other things, identifies and prioritizes needed road and street improvements.

    Two North/South routes were identified in the comprehensive plan.  One  from the I 10 Woolmarket interchange with a bridge to run south across the river to connect with Popp's Ferry Road, and the other is from the Cedar Lake interchange to run south  with a bridge across the Back Bay to connect with Rodenberg.

    The Cedar Lake/Rodenberg route was endorsed by the Biloxi Planning Commission on May 16, 1996 as the most critical route needed by the city.

   The Planning Commission consists of two residents from each ward and had the purpose of studying improvements and planning for the City's needs and making appropriate recommendations to City Officials.  The Commission made its decision after fully discussing the possible options in regard to the needs of the city, not only for access to and from the Biloxi peninsula but also for future development in the north bay area. The Planning Commission recommended the Cedar Lake/Rodenberg route as the City's top priority.

    The Cedar Lake/Rodenberg route is by no means a new discovery.  Over ten years earlier the City received a study issued in May, 1987.  The Gulf Regional Planning Commission also had extensively studied the East/West routes and North/South Routes, which included the “Cedar Lake/Rodenberg” route. Going back further, the City of Biloxi had a study done titled “THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI.  This study was dated April 1979 that included a finding for the “Construction of an extension of Rodenberg to the Cedar Lake Exchange.”

As you can see, in studies going back nearly 30 years, a bridge at Rodenburg to Cedar Lake has been every recommendation.

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