YAZOO CITY, MS — Commissioner Willie Simmons, Central Transportation District, announces updates to several Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) maintenance projects in western Mississippi.

“These projects are a major investment into our infrastructure system that will ultimately make our state a better place to live and work,” Simmons said. “We look forward to seeing these projects progress to greatly improve safety and efficiency throughout western Mississippi.”

Earlier this year work began on the construction of approximately nine miles of four-lane highway known as the U.S. Highway 82 Greenville Bypass from State Route 1 to Leland. Crews have completed six box culverts, and construction on two other box culverts is underway.

Other work underway includes diaphragm and end wall pours for a bridge at Kuhn Road, pile driving for a bridge at Old U.S. Highway 61, pouring columns for a bridge at Black Bayou, mixing base and subbase material on the north end of the project, and hauling borrow material on the north end of the project. The Landfill Road connector and Old U.S. Highway 61 detour is open to traffic.

The $137-million contract was awarded to Eutaw Construction of Madison. Work is on track to be completed fall 2025. 

Work continues on the construction of the Interstate 20 south frontage road extension to U.S. Highway 80 in Warren County. The project includes bridge repairs to five bridges within the Vicksburg city limits.

The new I-20 frontage road extension bridge has been opened to traffic. Crews are continuing to work on the I-20 bridge railing. The project extends the existing south frontage road from Old Highway 27 to U.S. 80. 

The $17.3-million contract was awarded to T.L. Wallace Construction, Inc. of Columbia. The project remains on track to be completed by spring 2023.

A mill and overlay of 22 miles of Interstate 55 from half a mile north of State Route 17 to the Carroll County line recently began. In addition to the mill and overlay, trees will be cleared within 50 feet of the travel lane. Crews have begun clearing and repairing failed areas on ramps throughout the project.

The $39-million project was awarded to APAC-Mississippi of Jackson. Work is estimated to be completed by spring 2024.

A project aiming to improve traffic signals along U.S. Highway 61 and U.S. Highway 82 in Bolivar and Sunflower counties recently got underway. The $433,000 contract was awarded to Lewis Electric of Flowood. Work is scheduled to be completed fall 2023.

A mill and overlay of 11 miles of Interstate 55 from the Lincoln County line to Hazlehurst is progressing in Copiah County. Crews have finished clearing along the interstate and have begun paving the mainline.

The $16.1-million contract was awarded to W.E. Blain & Sons of Mount Olive. The anticipated completion date is scheduled for spring 2023.

A project that provides improvements to the intersection of U.S. 61 and State Route 533 is underway in Jefferson County. Crews are currently working to construct the turn lanes on U.S. 61.

The $2.7-million project was awarded to G. Rayborn Contracting of Natchez. The project is anticipated to be completed this winter.

In Claiborne County, a lottery-funded overlay of State Route 548 from the beginning of state maintenance at Hermanville to the Copiah County line recently began. Crews are beginning mainline paving on the project. The $2.8-million project was awarded to Dickerson & Bowen of Jackson, and is expected to wrap up spring 2023.

In Copiah County, a lottery-funded mill and overlay of 14 miles of U.S. Highway 51 from the Lincoln County line to south of State Route 28, a half mile of State Route 850 from U.S. 51 to the end of state maintenance, and just over half a mile of State Route 848 from U.S. 51 to the end of state maintenance recently began. The nearly $5-million project was awarded to Dickerson & Bowen of Jackson.

In Humphreys County, a lottery-funded mill and overlay of two miles of U.S. Highway 49 W from the five-lane section south of Belzoni to north of State Route 12 W is underway. All paving operations are complete, and crews are working on permanent stripe. The $3.2-million project was awarded to APAC-Mississippi and is expected to wrap up by winter 2022.

In Issaquena County, a lottery-funded mill and overlay of eight miles of State Route 16 from the beginning of state maintenance in Grace to the end of state maintenance in Rolling Fork is underway. Mainline paving operations are complete, and crews are currently placing shoulder gravel. The $4.3-million project was awarded to APAC-Mississippi and is expected to wrap up this winter.

In Sharkey County, a lottery-funded project that calls for the overlay of 20 miles of U.S. 61 from the Issaquena County line to Rolling Fork was recently completed. The $6.1-million contract was awarded to APAC-Mississippi.

In Sunflower County, the state lottery and $250,000 in special funds from the legislature overlayed eight miles of State Route 3 from U.S. 49 W to U.S. 82 at Moorhead. The $2.8-million project was awarded to APAC-Mississippi and is expected to be completed this fall.

A project that will provide improvements to intersections throughout District 3 is set to begin soon. Work will consist of updating and adding signs, stripe, raised pavement markers, flasher assemblies, and lights at various intersections throughout the district.

The nearly $3-million project was awarded to Atwood Fence Company of Kosciusko. Work is scheduled to be completed summer 2023.

A slide repair project on State Route 3 approximately three miles north of Satartia in Yazoo County has been completed. The $986,250 contract was awarded to Key, LLC of Madison.