BATESVILLE, MS — The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) announces updates to several maintenance projects in northwest Mississippi.

“There’s no shortage of needs in Northwest Mississippi. Keeping these and other projects on track will improve our overall transportation network,” said Northern District Transportation Commissioner John Caldwell. “Hopefully, these and others will prove to be a sign of more to follow.”

A $52.5-million project to replace four bridges on Interstate 55 at Hickahala Creek continues in Tate County. The project includes construction of new northbound and southbound bridges over Hickahala Creek and the Hickahala relief area. The northbound bridges were built on a new alignment and are complete. The southbound bridges were also built on a new alignment and were completed in September. Demolition of the old bridges and median work is now underway. The project was awarded to W.G. Yates & Son Construction Company of Jackson. This project is set to be completed in fall 2022. Work is progressing on two bridge replacements on State Route 3 in Tate and Tunica Counties. The bridges are being built over the CNIC Railroad and the Coldwater River near Savage. The bridges are being built on a new alignment, adjacent to the existing road. All spans are hung over the railroad bridge. Crews are preparing to pour caps and end walls at bents 1 and 4 on the bridge over Coldwater River. Haunch girders are expected to arrive on site in November. Earthwork operations are nearing completion. The $25.5-million project was awarded to Talbot Brothers Inc. of Nesbit. It is scheduled to be completed in spring 2024.Talbot Brothers, Inc. was awarded a $7.6-million contract to construct a bridge replacement over Long Creek in Panola County. It is being built on a new alignment adjacent to State Route 51. Traffic will remain on the old alignment while the new construction is underway. The contractor has paved the base and binder course of asphalt and finished the rails on each bridge. The guardrails were recently installed, and traffic was put on the new alignment. Remaining work includes removing the old bridges and roadway and building the new Hentz Road intersection. This project is scheduled to be completed in winter 2022.A project to replace a bridge on State Route 35 over the Big Sand Creek continues in Carroll County. The bridge is being built on a new alignment. A detour road and bridge is currently being constructed and should be in place by fall 2022. The work to replace the existing bridge will begin immediately after the detour is in place. The $6.5-million project was awarded to Century Construction Group of Tupelo. Work is expected to be completed spring 2024.Work is nearing completion on a bridge replacement project on State Route 35 in Attala County. Both spans have been completed and are now open to traffic. Work will continue through the spring to establish vegetation on slopes. The $13.8-million project was awarded to T.L. Wallace Construction, Inc. of Columbia. Work is expected to be completed fall 2022.Work is progressing on a bridge replacement project on State Route 404 near Duck Hill. Key, LLC of Madison was awarded the $6.8-million contract to replace two existing bridges on the east and west side of Duck Hill in Montgomery County. The west bridge was opened to traffic in July. Work on the east bridge is nearing completion. The project is scheduled to be completed fall of 2022.The construction of a new bridge on U.S. 51 near Grenada is nearing completion. The new bridge is now open to traffic. Work that remains is slope and minor shoulder work. The $6.7-million project was awarded to Joe McGee Construction Company, Inc. of Lake. The project should be finished fall 2022.Progress is being made on a bridge replacement on State Route 7 in Grenada County. The bridge is being built on a new alignment over Riverdale Creek. The work is necessary due to rapid deterioration of the existing bridge. The new bridge will span Riverdale creek along with the Grenada Railroad. The earthwork is approximately 65 percent complete, and the contractor is in the process of finishing up driving bridge pilings. Bridge work will be ongoing through the winter months. Key, LLC was awarded the $11.4-million contract. The project is expected to be completed summer 2023.W.G. Yates & Sons Construction Company is making progress on a bridge replacement, box culvert replacement, and realignment of State Route 6. The bridge is being built over Coldwater River and Cassidy Bayou. Test and trial shafts for the bridge are complete. Pilings for bents 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 have been driven. The northern half of the Cassidy Bayou change has been completed and armored with concrete mat. Phase 1 of the western box culvert has been completed. The central and eastern box culverts are progressing rapidly. Earthwork is taking place, and paving work has begun on the SR 6 detour. This $29.7-million project is set to be completed summer 2024.