You can't build a subdivision, an apartment complex or a hotel without somewhere for the sewage to go. In D'Iberville, the Harrison County city just across Back Bay from Biloxi, a project now nearing the finish line is making sure the city has room.
The South Lamey Bridge Pump Station Flow Reversal to North Plant project is redirecting wastewater to the city's north treatment plant, increasing capacity as D'Iberville prepares for more residential and commercial development, Alexa Hatten reported on Oct. 8. Construction for the final stage was underway at the time.
What's being built
The $4.76 million project was advertised for bids in October 2024. Plans called for demolishing two existing pump stations, building two new ones and installing about 10,000 feet of force main, along with other sewer work.
According to the state's procurement listing, the City of D'Iberville advertised the job on Oct. 16, 2024, with sealed bids due Nov. 14, 2024. The listing carries a project number from the state's MCWI water infrastructure grant program, and it's categorized as heavy sewer construction.
City Manager Bobby Weaver said the project reroutes sewage from the Lamey Bridge Road area between Interstate 10 and the Tchoutacabouffa River, including commercial areas along Sangani Boulevard and Mallet Road.
A construction photo credited to Overstreet and Associates shows the final stage of what the report's caption calls the Lamey Bridge Reverse Flow Force Main project. The report did not name the contractor building it, and the state listing doesn't show an award.
Weaver said the need for more sewer capacity came as D'Iberville grew after Hurricane Katrina.
"As the city began to recover from Katrina, new subdivisions were being built to the north and connected to the city's sewer collection system," he said.
That growth pushed more sewage through the Seventh Avenue pump station. Weaver said redirecting the wastewater lets the city's system keep up with new development while saving capacity for redevelopment along the waterfront.
"This redirection was developed to transition the city's sewer infrastructure to where it can support significant growth of development within the entire city limits," Weaver said.
He was clear that the project isn't about fixing neglect. The flow reversal "is not the result of improper maintenance," according to the report, but is meant to handle population growth and development in the northern part of the city.
Heavy rain had caused sewer overflows from maintenance holes because of inflow and infiltration problems, Weaver said. The city hasn't received any complaints about overflows since the flow-reversal work began.
The project builds on earlier work tied to the city's growth. The Interstate 10/Interstate 110 interchange project, which began in 2013, included about 10,000 feet of sewer pipe, two new lift stations and other water and sewer relocation work.
Weaver said the new capacity could support larger developments without requiring major new sewer investments, and that the city is already in talks with developers.
"We have had several discussions with large developments, multi-family, casino, hotel," Weaver said. "Having the sewer capacity to accept such development without any major investment is not only comforting but also places us in a great position to convey we can adequately provide water and sewer for their development."
Why it matters for Contractors
Sewer capacity is the quiet gatekeeper of new construction. When a city's lines and pump stations are maxed out, new projects can stall until the system catches up. D'Iberville is spending $4.76 million to make sure that doesn't happen, and the city manager says the city has already talked with developers about multifamily, casino and hotel projects. For Gulf Coast builders, that means the Lamey Bridge Road corridor, Sangani Boulevard and Mallet Road area are better positioned for future residential and commercial projects, though none of those projects has been announced. The job itself is also a reminder that utility contractors on the Coast have steady work in pump stations, force mains and lift stations as cities catch up with growth. That work spreads to pipe crews, excavation and dewatering subs, electricians who wire pump station controls, and paving crews who patch roads afterward. Contractors who want in on what comes next should watch D'Iberville's planning agendas and state bid postings for the developments Weaver says are in discussion.