MDOT has no firm timetable for reopening highways 80 and 465

The Mississippi Department of Transportation provided an update Friday on two Warren County roads that have been closed for some time: U.S. Highway 80 and Mississippi Highway 465.

Highway 80 has been closed since Feb. 10 when it collapsed after weeks of heavy rain. MDOT is in the process of acquiring a quarter-acre tract of land adjacent to the roadway slide before sending the repair project out for bids, said agency representative Mike Flood.

The agency closed the state highway indefinitely west of its intersection with Alban Road after the collapse. Flood hopes to get bids out within the next 45 days, but said the total time to complete repairs would be speculation at this point.

No timetable has been established for reopening Highway 465 near Eagle Lake, either. The section from the intersection with the Backwater Levee to Eagle Lake Shore Road has been under water for several weeks this year after being under water for almost five months last year.

Flood said the roadway will have to have a complete inspection after the water recedes and it gets cleaned up. MDOT has concerns about erosion and undermining issues, and that soil and other tests will be conducted and necessary repairs completed before reopening.