LONG BEACH, Miss. (WLOX) – Long Beach Mayor Tim Pierce detailed future projects and updated others in the works during an interview on the 4 O\u2019Clock Show.<\/p>\n
Speed limits<\/p>\n
Pierce said safety concerns drove his decision to call for the speed limit to be reduced on several city roads, including dropping Jeff Davis Avenue to 15 mph.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI have a hard time getting out of City Hall. I have a hard time crossing the street to get to the other side with the restaurants and the increase in business,\u201d Pierce said. \u201cIt was mainly safety.\u201d<\/p>\n The city also lowered the speed limit to 30 mph on East Railroad Street<\/a> and is considering a speed limit reduction in the Castine Pointe subdivision.<\/a><\/p>\n Annexation proposal<\/p>\n Pierce renewed his push to annex<\/a> approximately 1.3 square miles of land west of the city, targeting the neighboring industrial park. He said the city needs business growth to balance rapid residential expansion.<\/p>\n \u201cOur city\u2019s growing fast with residential. The business is not keeping up,\u201d Pierce said. \u201cA lot of our prime commercial property is not going anywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n Pierce said the city already provides services to the industrial park, including fire department coverage. He added that many industrial park workers also live within Long Beach city limits.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to be a good partner with them and try to help not only them move forward but us as well,\u201d Pierce said.<\/p>\n Gateway project<\/p>\n Pierce said the gateway project<\/a> at the harbor is back on schedule after falling behind about a month ago. <\/p>\n \u201cWe had some good conversations with the contractor. Now there are a lot of workers, a lot of progress is happening down at the gateway, and we\u2019re getting right back on schedule,\u201d Pierce said.<\/p>\n The project features a long parking lot, a 42-foot lighthouse, and room for entertainment.<\/p>\n Mardi Gras<\/p>\n