Nine Warren County residents are headed for Washington, D.C., to meet with the state’s Congressional delegation and discuss funding for projects in Vicksburg and Warren County.
“This gives us a chance to see the members of the congressional delegation, let them know what’s going on in Vicksburg and Warren County, talk with them and hopefully some dollars will come our way,” said Mark Buys, president of the Vicksburg-Warren Chamber of Commerce. Buys has made the annual Washington trip about six times.
“The list of items we have is updated every year, and once a project gets on the list it stays there until it is funded or it is no longer a priority,” he said. “It’s a real successful program.”
Annette Kirklin, director of the Vicksburg Convention Center, is another regular on the trip, having gone to Washington 10 times.
A newcomer on the trip is county administrator John Smith, who’s representing the county.
“This is my first time going, so I don’t know what to expect,” he said. “I’ve always been on the receiving end when we get funds from Washington. It’s going to be different being on the asking end.”
Lynn Foley, another chamber representative, will also be making her first trip, but is familiar with Washington having lived and worked there.
Other people making the trip, will be Mayor George Flaggs Jr., who will also be attending the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Capitol meeting, Port Commission chairman Margaret Gilmer, Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau director Bill Seratt, Main Street director Kim Hopkins and Bess Averett, director of Friends of the Vicksburg National Military Park and Campaign.
The key projects include:
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Engineering Research and Development Center access and safety.
City officials are looking for funding for a proposed $10.6 million, 2.5-mile bypass road from U.S. 61 South starting east of Rifle Range Road and going east to intersect with Halls Ferry Road just north of the Halls Ferry/Fisher Ferry split.
• Port of Vicksburg connector road.
Flaggs said in December the 1.5-mile the U.S. 61 North bypass to the Port of Vicksburg will shorten the distance between the port and Interstate 20, and reroute 18-wheelers away from downtown. Presently, 18-wheelers heading north to the Port of Vicksburg take a route that puts them on Washington Street to Levee Street and then back on Washington creating traffic problems downtown.
The road begins on U.S. 61 North across from Bowie Road and will go west, intersecting with North Washington Street across from the port entrance on Haining Road.
• Upgrades and expansion at the Port of Vicksburg.
“Upgrades are needed to the four warehouse facilities, welding shop and craneway building,” according to the summary of project requests the group is bringing to the delegation. The repairs and upgrades, according to the summary, include roof repairs and replacement, sprinkler system repairs and replacement and other structural repairs.
The port is also seeking $4.34 million to install 200-foot bridge and a pedestal for an E-crane to be installed on the port’s T-dock.
There is also a request for funding to purchase property to expand port facilities.
• Vicksburg National Military Park expansion. Congress has authorized the expansion of the Vicksburg National Military Park to include the Raymond, Champion Hill and Grand Gulf battlefield sites to attract more tourists and give visitors to the park a better understanding of the Siege of Vicksburg.

by providing access to the sites of the three battles that led up to the Siege in