Simmons provides updates on MDOT repair projects

Commissioner Willie Simmons, Central Transportation District, has provided updates to several Mississippi Department of Transportation repair projects in Warren, Claiborne, Yazoo and other western Mississippi counties.

Major slide repairs moving forward

Heavy rains throughout the month of February resulted in several landslides across the region.

In Warren County, a project was awarded this month to repair Old U.S. Highway 80/State Route 822 after heavy rain resulted in an embankment slide at Mount Alban Road. The roadway remains closed, but work is underway to repair the road as soon as possible. Theobald Construction Services LLC was awarded the nearly $340,000 repair project. With no weather delays, work is anticipated to be completed late summer 2020.

“State Route 465 in Warren and Issaquena counties is open after flooding at two locations during the recent severe weather outbreak,” Simmons said. “I appreciate our district crews working quickly to reopen this vital corridor and look forward to seeing the repairs to U.S. 49, SR 16 and U.S. 80 reopen those routes.”

U.S. Highway 49 traffic remains in the head-to-head configuration in the northbound lanes just south of Yazoo City following a pavement failure that resulted in the closure of the southbound lanes. The $1.3 million repair has been awarded to Hemphill Construction Company Inc. Work is set to begin this week and expected to be completed by fall 2020.

Just east of U.S. 49, State Route 16 remains closed in Yazoo County following a roadway failure because of these heavy downpours, but a slide repair project is underway. The contract was awarded to Riverside Construction Company, Inc., at an amount of $2.1 million. Work is on track to be complete this summer, pending weather.

Interstate 20 Frontage Road Extension continues in Warren County

A project to extend the existing Interstate 20 South Frontage Road from where it dead ends at Old Highway 27 to U.S. 80/SR 822 in Warren County is underway. The $19.9 million contract was awarded to T.L. Wallace Construction, Inc.

Additionally, five bridges on I-20 within the Vicksburg city limits were identified as needing new bridge railing and other minor repairs. Work on the bridges will begin once the South Frontage Road is complete.

Work began in the fall of 2019 and it is expected to be completed spring 2023.

Funding announced for Greenville Bypass project

A $71.46 million Infrastructure for Rebuilding America grant was recently announced for construction of the Greenville Bypass Freight Corridor, which will carry U.S. Highway 82 from the Greenville Bridge 15.6 miles to Leland. The project continues previous efforts to connect 6.2 miles of roadway from the Mississippi River bridge to the future interchange with State Route 1, completing construction on the segment by extending the bypass another 9.4 miles east.

“Thank you to our partners Sen. Wicker, Sen. Hyde-Smith, Mayor Simmons, Federal Highway Administration and others whose support made this project possible,” Simmons said. “We look forward to continuing to work with our partners to fund infrastructure improvement projects that make our roads safer while growing the state’s economy.”

The project promotes economic development by reducing travel times for freight vehicles traveling through the western side of the state while aiming to bring more commerce and jobs to the Mississippi Delta region.

Lottery funds designated for several pavement restoration projects

Several pavement restoration projects are being planned across the region, all funded by lottery proceeds. In Yazoo County, a project will soon be underway to mill and overlay approximately 14 miles of State Route 432 beginning at State Route 433 and extending east to Interstate 55. The contract was awarded to APAC-Mississippi at an estimated cost of $1.8 million. Work will begin this summer and is anticipated to be completed by fall 2020.

In Holmes County, a project to overlay approximately 10.7 miles of U.S. Highway 51 from its intersection with State Route 17 to Aldy Road in Holmes County will soon be underway. The contract was awarded to APAC-Mississippi at an estimated cost of $2.1 million. Work will begin this summer and is expected to be completed by fall 2020.

Another paving project will mill and overlay approximately two miles of SR 467 from State Route 22 to Utica Street in Edwards. All three projects are funded by lottery proceeds. MDOT wasted no time putting these funds to use following the Alyce G. Clarke Mississippi Lottery Law being enacted in the August 2018 special session. The law designated the first $80 million of net lottery proceeds annually for state roads and bridges.

“We are grateful the legislature designated a portion of lottery proceeds to Mississippi’s maintenance needs,” Simmons said. “Pavement restoration projects like this will not only enhance people’s quality of life but will also promote economic growth around the state.”

State Route 18 bridge replacement in Copiah County

A project to replace three bridges and a box bridge on State Route 18 from the Claiborne County line to the Hinds County line, and between the Copiah County line and State Route 27 remains underway. Most construction is complete.

Work began in the fall of 2018 and is expected to be completed this summer. The contractor is Key, LLC, and the contract amount is approximately $18.2 million.

Maintenance projects underway in Bolivar, Claiborne and Jefferson counties

A $2.3 million overlay project was recently completed on State Route 522 from Alcorn State University to U.S. 61 in Claiborne and Jefferson counties. The contractor was APAC-Mississippi.

In Bolivar County, work began early this year to overlay approximately 12 miles of U.S. Highway 61 from Shelby to the Coahoma County Line. All paving is complete, and the only remaining work includes placing materials along the shoulder. The $4.5 million project was awarded to Lehman-Roberts Company.

“Most importantly, as work progresses on these active projects, please be mindful of roadside workers,” Simmons said.

Work zones present new traffic patterns and configurations that may be unfamiliar to motorists. For information about how to navigate highway work zones safely, visit GoMDOT.com/drivesmartms.