Our History
— Waggoner —
Joe Waggoner founded Waggoner Engineering in 1976 as a civil engineering firm with a passion for helping communities realize their potential. Forty-five years later, Waggoner has expanded throughout the Mid-South and is recognized today for its innovative, multi-disciplinary services that make it much more than a traditional engineering firm.
1976
Waggoner Engineering, Inc. was incorporated
Joe A. Waggoner, P.A. founded in Brandon, Miss.
1988
Moved to Jackson office
1992
Statewide Water Management Plan
Waggoner was the prime consultant for this plan – the first of its kind in Mississippi and only a handful nationwide. The plan addressed evaluation and identification of the interdependencies and compatibilities between surface water and groundwater management, conservation, environmental protection, economic development, flood control, and the institutional management issues associated with statewide water resources management.
1994
Highland Colony Parkway
Opened in April, the award-winning Highland Colony Parkway represents creative planning, design, and financing through joint participation, and is recognized as one of the premier economic development corridors in the Southeast. It’s one of few transportation and economic development corridors of its kind without federal participation. Waggoner performed the initial route surveys, right-of-way acquisition surveys, design, and construction administration for the entire project.
1999
Sardis Lake
Sardis Lake Recreation and Tourism Master Plan – A master plan for recreational development within the 6,000 acres surrounding Sardis Lake was produced to organize recreational activities into a viable rural economic development resource to serve the recreational and tourism needs of a regional population.
1999
Jackson Airport Parking
The Jackson-Medgar Evers Wiley International Airport Parking Facility Project included the expansion of public parking areas in the east and west parking areas, relocation and expansion of rental car facilities, construction of new employee parking, and relocation of revenue control facilities. The project additionally included a two-level public parking garage, expandable to three levels, with all-weather, overhead pedestrian walkways, security systems, ADA compliant stairwells and elevators, and emergency call devices.
2001
Nissan Vehicle Assembly Plant
Waggoner served as the overall project manager for development of the $1.2 billion, 1,700-acre Nissan Manufacturing site located in Canton, Miss. Within an amazing 18-week schedule, Waggoner designed and managed the development of the 100-acre building pad, including grading design for 3.5 million yards of fill material, site drainage, clearing and demolition plans, and property acquisition for the site and improvements.
2002
Opened Mid-South office in Hernando, Miss.
2003
Mississippi Geographic Information, LLC (MGI)
Waggoner formed MGI as a joint venture with two other firms to serve Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality in implementing the Mississippi Flood Map Modernization Initiative.
2004
Initiated Statewide Digital Mapping Program
Waggoner was selected to manage the development and implementation of a statewide digital mapping system for the State of Mississippi – the Mississippi Digital Earth Model (MDEM) – collecting seven core data layers of the state. This program is ongoing.
2006
Gulf Region Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Program
Waggoner led a consortium of three firms to develop the Gulf Region Water and Wastewater Plan (GRWWP) following Hurricane Katrina and subsequently managed the implementation of $641 million in capital improvements over 65 different projects in five counties.
2007
Dr. Robert Smith Sr. Parkway (JSU)
Waggoner was engaged to assess the situation and present alternatives to address the transportation deficiencies, the decline of residential and commercial areas and blight, and to provide an entrance and enhance visibility to the Jackson State University campus. Completed in 2007, the two-phase project included the development of a four-lane median divided parkway concept with bike and pedestrian trails, underground utilities, heavy utilization of “pocket” parks, traffic roundabouts, and vegetative plantings.
2007
Opened office in New Orleans, La.
2011
Preserving Downtown Pelahatchie
Pelahatchie commissioned Waggoner Engineering to develop a revitalization plan that enhances the community’s assets and infrastructure through sustainable solutions. Waggoner’s design includes physical improvements in key areas that enrich the community’s image and highlight its unique character.
2012
DeSoto County Regional Utility Authority
In 1998, Waggoner began working with DeSoto County to develop a strategic master plan to provide a county-wide wastewater system. Faced with a combination of environmentally impaired streams and rapid population growth throughout the county, the leadership of DeSoto County recognized the need for a plan for the future. Construction of the critical ‘backbone’ elements of the regional system was completed in 2013.
Wirtz Road Water Well
Waggoner designed a special system to meet Flowood’s complex needs – a state of the art and aesthetically pleasing 1,750
2013
DeSoto County Johnson Creek WWTF opened
The $13.8 million Johnson Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility opened in September of 2013. Designed to meet the needs of western DeSoto County for the next 20 years, this environmental infrastructure project provides for adequate treatment of increased wastewater, allowing the county to be in compliance with water quality certification.
2014
Lake Harbour Drive
The design included widening to five lanes, two in each direction with one center turn lane. Landscaping, lighting, drainage improvements, five traffic signals
Opened MS Gulf Coast office in Gulfport, Miss.
2015
Opened office in Memphis, Tenn.
2017
Waggoner Resilience Formed
Waggoner formed Waggoner Resilience to provide disaster recovery services to communities and regions across the southeast and the Country. Waggoner served as a partner for a grant administration team managing $6 billion in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG) recovery funds. Waggoner assisted communities and school districts in identifying and planning long-term recovery projects including green spaces, recreational facilities, environmental restoration, and the revitalization of blighted neighborhoods.
2018
Opened office in Vicksburg, Miss.
Opened office in Oxford, Miss.
Waggoner Utilities Division implemented in Birmingham, Ala.
2020
Lake Harbour Drive Project
The $28 million Lake Harbour Extension officially opened in Ridgeland, Miss., over two decades in the making. The city’s new addition will serve as a multi-lane boulevard transportation facility connecting U.S. Highway 51 to Highland Colony Parkway. Waggoner provided route location and environmental assessment services. Following the NEPA process, Waggoner’s services included conceptual design alternatives, final design phase, construction engineering, inspection services, and environmental studies.
Opened office in Meridian, Miss.
We do more than plan and design infrastructure – we transform communities.