9/9/2009 6:00:00 PM EDITORIAL/Positioning ourselves well
With the four-laning of Mississippi 19 from the Newton County line to House on schedule for completion in the summer of 2012, Philadelphia Mayor James A. Young is optimistic the final phase into town can be expedited as this segment was.
Hopefully, it can.
Four-lane access to Interstate 20 is a vital economic development link that will help existing industries and almost certainly bring new jobs.
The final segment into the city from House is scheduled to be bid in 2012.
Another vital link is the proposed beltway west to Williamsville when the four-lane reaches town.
With the state budget in peril and the national economy in crisis, though, it's not exactly clear when monies will be available for either the final segment or the beltway.
Persistence on every level by local leaders like Young will pay off, though.
The economic crisis should not prevent local leaders from persisting - and even dreaming - because it will pass.
Improved hurricane evacuation and the port expansion at Gulfport, among other things, could play into Neshoba County's favor.
East Mississippi could benefit from distribution facilities related to the port expansion.
As far as improved hurricane evacuation, draw a line north from where Interstate 59 intersects Interstate 20 and very quickly that roadway would run into Mississippi 19, bypassing potentially congested areas of Meridian, moving traffic north through Philadelphia and dispersing to points north.
Young sees the Miss. 19 four-laning that is under way as an economic development tool that positions the city for growth.
Creative financing on the beltway would almost certainly help existing industries such as Weyerhaeuser and Yates as heavy truck traffic could move with much more ease.
Philadelphia, Neshoba County and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians don't have to wait on the state. Mechanisms exist to fund work locally and be repaid by the state, and these are options that should be explored.
What's going to be the gateway into the city from the beltway?
What will the beltway mean for downtown?
Downtown redevelopment is at the top of Young's agenda, and that's a good thing.
"We don't want people to bypass Philadelphia. We have to give them a reason to come downtown."
Mayor Young can capably lead this discussion to position our community well.
