Help Save Church Street in

Port Gibson!!!

Click here to visit the Port Gibson Heritage Trust

web site to learn more about this issue!

After many years of review and analysis the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) has decided to reconstruct US Highway 61 on historic Church Street in Port Gibson instead of locating it to the east of the town.  This project will significantly impact those characteristics, such as the historic homes and churches, the mature trees, and the pedestrian and bike access which all make Church Street such a special place.  If you are not familiar with Port Gibson you can visit the following web sites for more information:

http://www.portgibson.org

www.portgibsononthemississippi.com

MDOT is attempting to get around federal laws by claiming it will build the project with only state funds and therefore the Department does not have to comply with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (Section 106) which is designed to protect historic structures from this type of intrusion. Ignoring the fact that the prior MDOT work was conducted under NEPA and Section 106 with federal dollars, MDOT believes it does not have to satisfy the historical preservation concerns associated with a Church Street route.  The Mississippi Department of Archives and History has expressed its concerns to MDOT over the potential harm to historic resources along Church Street.  Even MDOT's independent engineers and consultants have stated in their reports that such a route would harm the very elements that make Church Street a historic treasure.  Even MDOT Commissioner Dick Hall has publicly stated he is opposed to using Church Street and acknowledged that MDOT was skirting NEPA and Section 106 by claiming it will only use state funds.  During the recent public presentation to the residents of Port Gibson MDOT informed them that the that the Church Street route is its final decision on the route for Highway 61 with plans to start work in the near future.

The residents of Port Gibson have formed the Port Gibson Heritage Trust (click here to go their web site) to fight the plan MDOT is proposing. They are working along with the NAACP in pursuing all avenues, including legal, to save Church Street. 

Support is needed from everyone interested in historic preservation and saving one of the most historic and unique streets in Mississippi. If you have never visited Port Gibson please visit the web sites above to see the significant historical structures that will be impacted along with the entire tourism industry associated with this unique town. Please sign the on-line petition to help support their efforts by clicking the link below:

On-line petition to fight the MDOT plans for Church Street 

The Port Gibson Heritage Trust would also like to receive as many letters of support for their efforts as possible in addition to the on-line petition.  If you would like to send a written letter of support for their efforts to fight the MDOT plans for Church Street please send it to:

PORT GIBSON HERITAGE TRUST INC

PO BOX 751

Port Gibson, MS

39150-0751

All letters of support and petition information will be used for presentation to MDOT and other organizations involved in the project.

If you have questions you may direct them to Jane Ellis at 601-437-4277 of the Port Gibson Heritage Trust or visit their web site at www.portgibsonheritagetrust.org.

Click here to visit the Port Gibson Heritage Trust

web site to learn more about this issue!

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