Jackson County’s contractor will begin making improvements to Old Fort Bayou Boat Launch and Fishing Piers on Monday, January 15, 2024. The facility will remain accessible to the public throughout the majority of the four-month construction period. However, on January 24 the entire facility will close for approximately three days as construction takes place directly adjacent to the boat launch. Following the three-day closure, only the western pier and parking spaces directly under the Hwy 609 bridge are scheduled to be closed until construction is complete.
The $266,946.00 project will result in:
- Re-decking of the existing pier that is located west of and under the Hwy 609 (Washington Avenue) bridge.
- Replacement of (5) timber piles that support the pier along the west side of the boat launch.
- Extension of the existing pier that is located west of and under the Hwy 609 (Washington Avenue) bridge by approximately 40 linear feet to provide additional area for fishing.
- Installation of a new shade structure at the end of the pier extension.
- Lighting upgrades to both piers at the facility.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause the public, but these improvements will ensure the continued enjoyment and use of the very popular Old Fort Bayou Boat Launch for years to come. This is the final phase of planned improvements to this facility.
We would like to remind the public that there are many other boat launches along the Gulf Coast for their use. These other boat launches can be located by viewing the MDMR’s Public Access website at https://gis.dmr.ms.gov/PublicAccess/ . For any questions about the project please call Matthew Hosey, Jackson County Project Manager at (228) 769-3088.