NEWTON, MS — Commissioner Willie Simmons, Central Transportation District, announces updates to several Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) projects across central Mississippi.

This infrastructure improvement project calls for the reconstruction of 7.5 miles of U.S. Highway 49 from Florence to Richland. Crews are currently in the final stages of the project. Work includes placing the surface lift and tying in all side roads for the remainder of the project.

All stone work is complete throughout the project, and the permanent signals are up and running. Other remaining work includes striping operations and sign placement. Once complete, there will be three travel lanes and a shoulder in each direction.

Work began in the fall of 2017 and remains on track to be completed by late summer 2022. The $253-million project was awarded to W.G. Yates & Sons Construction of Philadelphia.

Another construction project nearing completion is the Interstate 20 bridge replacement project between Terry Road and Gallatin Street in Jackson. Remaining construction is underway on the I-20 eastbound bridge that spans U.S. Highway 51, Interstate 55 south, and the Canadian National/Illinois Central Railroad.

The only major work remaining is the placement of the final lift of asphalt on I-20 and I-55 throughout the project. Crews will also restripe the travel lanes to get the roadway in its final layout. Crews have poured concrete for several structures, including a median barrier wall along I-20 westbound, concrete slope paving at the new bridge’s abutment, and paved ditches.

The bridge replacement project began in March 2020. The $42.2-million project was awarded to Key Constructors, LLC of Madison. Work remains on track to be completed this summer.

The expansion of State Route 19 from two to four lanes from Tucker to Philadelphia continues in Neshoba County. Most clearing and grubbing has been completed. Crews continue removing topsoil, excess excavation, installing erosion control items, constructing box bridges, and installing pipes throughout the project. Traffic is anticipated to be swapped to the two newly constructed lanes by fall 2022. After this traffic swap, work will begin on reconstruction of the two existing lanes.

In addition to expanding to four lanes, the new grading will offer smoother riding conditions, showing significant progress throughout the area. Several local roads will be realigned to tie into the new four lane roadway. The $36-million contract was awarded to W.G. Yates and Sons Construction. Work is anticipated to be completed fall 2023. 

Crews recently began a design-build project calling for the widening of the Interstate 59/20 bridges over State Route 19/39 and the bridge over 65th Avenue, the removal of the bridges over Knight Parker Road, and upgrade of the roadway lighting system along the I-59/20 corridor through the city of Meridian.

The $24.4-million design-build project was awarded to Key Construction Company with an anticipated completion date of summer 2023.

A project calling for the replacement of three bridges on State Route 487 between Tuscola and State Route 35 in Leake County remains underway. All decks and slabs have been poured and grinding corrections are underway. A crushed stone base layer is being graded and compacted on the north end of the project.

Clearing and grubbing operations are complete. Roadway construction, driveway relocation efforts, and shoulder widening construction is dependent on weather conditions.

The $9.6-million project was awarded to L&A Contracting Company of Hattiesburg. Work is expected to be completed by summer 2023.

A project that provides improvements on U.S. 49 from 0.5 miles north of Interstate 220 to the Madison County line is nearly complete. This includes repairing failed concrete pavement joints, repairing asphalt failures, and the mill and overlay of all mainline lanes and shoulders.

All work on the project is complete with the exception of replacing two permanent roadway signs and all informal punch list items. APAC-Mississippi, Inc. of Jackson, was awarded the $8-million contract.

A project is underway to provide improvements to State Route 25 from State Route 471 to State Route 43 in Rankin County. Work includes spot-leveling to correct cross slopes and curve elevation, repairing failed areas to full depth and milling, and overlaying all lanes and shoulders.

APAC-Mississippi, Inc. was awarded the $10-million contract. Work is expected to be completed by the fall.