Vicksburg’s Riverfront gets cleaning, months of silt accumulation removed

Published 4:26 pm Friday, August 13, 2021

Vicksburg’s riverfront underwent cleaning Friday as a barge-mounted track hoe began removing months of accumulated silt along the riverbank.

Vicksburg Public Works Director Garnet Van Norman said the city hired contractor J.O. Smith of Vicksburg to remove the soil, which builds up along the bank during flooding and high water periods.

“We do this every year after the river goes down,” he said.

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The track hoe doing the work along the bank was situated on a barge pushed by the Ergon Marine tug Dorothy Lee, which had the barge situated against the riverbank. A city dump truck was located nearby to take dirt removed from the bank.

About John Surratt

John Surratt is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a degree in general studies. He has worked as an editor, reporter and photographer for newspapers in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. He has been a member of The Vicksburg Post staff since 2011 and covers city government. He and his wife attend St. Paul Catholic Church and he is a member of the Port City Kiwanis Club.

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