JACKSON, MS — Congressman Bennie Thompson and other officials joined Mississippi Transportation Commission Chairman Willie Simmons to break ground on the second phase of a major construction project in the Mississippi Delta.

The first phase of the massive construction project began in March 2022. This phase provided the construction of nine miles of four-lane highway known as the U.S. Highway 82 Greenville Bypass from State Route 1 to Leland in Washington County.

“It’s an exciting day to celebrate the work that has been completed while kicking off this next critical phase of the Greenville Bypass,” Simmons said. “Every community in and around Washington County will benefit from this project and the industry it will bring in right next to the Mississippi River. It’s going to do great things for our state.

Phase II of the project runs from SR 1 to the Mississippi River Bridge. It provides cement stabilization and paving of approximately 7 miles of the newly constructed U.S. 82 Greenville Bypass. Once complete, the bypass will greatly alleviate traffic and increase safe driving conditions throughout the area.

“Any community that prospers has good transportation. That means not only good roads, but ways of getting people from home to work, or to the hospital, among other places. This is an investment in the Mississippi Delta, to bring it forward to where it should have been for a long time,” Thompson said. “I look forward to continuing to work with Commissioner Simmons and the other elected officials to make this the transportation mecca of the state.”

In addition to Thompson and Simmons, featured guests included Rep. John Hines, Sr., Greenville Mayor Errick D. Simmons, and President of the Washington County Board of Supervisors Carl McGee, among other officials. The groundbreaking ceremony was held at the Greenville Higher Education building in Greenville.

“Greenville, Mississippi, is one of the only municipalities in the Delta area with infrastructure that includes a four-lane highway, an airport, a port, and rails — an ideal situation for economic development,” Simmons said. “Congressman Thompson and I are going to work together to move it forward and make sure these modes of transportation are supported and have the resources needed to revitalize and stabilize the Mississippi Delta.”

The $79 million project was awarded to Eutaw Construction and is expected to be completed in the fall of 2025.