HATTIESBURG, MS — Commissioner Tom King, Southern Transportation District, announces updates to several Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) projects in south Mississippi.

“Summer is peak construction season at MDOT, and we’re proud to see the progress being made on Mississippi’s highways,” King said. “We are always striving to improve our state’s transportation network by enhancing its safety for our citizens. These projects all represent significant steps in that direction.”

In Jasper County, a $3.3-million overlay project of State Route 503 is now underway. This project stretches 23.3 miles from State Route 528 to the Newton County line. The contract was awarded to Dunn Roadbuilders, LLC of Laurel. Work is expected to be complete summer 2022.

In Harrison County, a $2.6-million mill and overlay of U.S. Highway 49 is expected to begin soon. The project stretches from north of Creosote Road to north of O’Neal Road. This contract was awarded to Warren Paving, Inc. of Hattiesburg and is expected to wrap up summer 2022.

In Jackson County, a $4.8-million overlay project continues on U.S. Highway 90. The project stretches seven miles from State Route 57 to the West Pascagoula River Bridge. Pipe repair work is nearing completion and paving operations are now underway. This project was awarded to Warren Paving and is expected to wrap up summer 2022.

A safety improvement project is underway in Forrest County. This $66.7-million project stretches 14 miles from the Lamar County line to just south of Moselle.

Clearing operations have been completed with rubbalization and paving operations underway. Drainage improvement work continues. This project was awarded to Dunn Roadbuilders and is expected to be complete in 2024.

A mill and overlay project continues on I-59 from U.S. Highway 98 east seven miles to the Forrest/Lamar County line. Traffic signals have been installed at the Highway 11 interchange. All work is complete. Only punch list items remain. This $11-million project was awarded to Dunn Roadbuilders. A safety improvement project on U.S. 49 is nearing completion in Forrest County. The project stretches from the Stone County line to South Gate Road. Grading work is being performed in the median and southbound outside shoulder, and drainage work continues. Southbound traffic has been shifted to the median in several locations to allow for reconstruction of the existing southbound lanes to remove steep vertical curves. Retaining walls are also being constructed.

This $41-million contract was awarded to T.L. Wallace Construction of Columbia and is expected to wrap up in fall 2022.

Work on an interchange construction project on Interstate 59 at State Route 42 in Forrest County is complete with only punch list items remaining. This $24.2-million contract was awarded to Dunn Roadbuilders. Work on a reconstruction project that stretches from Cayten Street to Lakeshore Drive on U.S. 11 continues in Pearl River County. The first phase of the project is nearing completion while the second phase of construction is set to begin in 2023.

Traffic signals are being installed and permanent striping will be added soon. This work is expected to be completed summer 2022. This $14.4-million project was awarded to Barriere Construction Company, LLC of Franklinton, Louisiana.

The second phase will include the construction of a new bridge over the East Hobolochitto Creek, which will have shoulders and include a protected sidewalk with a concrete barrier for pedestrians. The entire project is estimated to be completed in 2025.

A bridge rehabilitation project on the Fort Bayou drawbridge on SR 609 in Jackson County is nearing completion. Work to replace the timber fender system continues. Pending approval, a walkway system will be added to allow access to the fuel tank. All four lanes of traffic are now open.

This $20-million project was awarded to C.E.C., Inc. of Lafayette, Louisiana. Work is on track to be completed by the end of summer 2022.

A bridge rehabilitation project is underway on the Wilkes Drawbridge located on State Route 605 over Industrial Waterway in Harrison County. Electrical installations are nearly finished. All lanes of traffic should be open soon.

During the course of the project, the bridge was hit by a boat, necessitating repairs. A supplemental agreement with the contractor was enacted, and work will begin soon to make repairs.

This $22-million project was awarded to C.E.C. All work is expected to wrap up summer 2022.

A project to improve the intersection on U.S. Highway 84 at Reservoir Road/Magnolia Hill Road and State Route 184 is underway in Wayne County.

New signals are currently being installed and work is underway constructing left turn lanes in the median of U.S. 84. This $4-million project was awarded to R & J Construction Company, Inc. of Laurel. Work is expected to wrap up summer 2022.