MCCOMB, MS — Commissioner Charles Busby, Southern Transportation District, announces updates to several Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) projects in southwest Mississippi.
“As we continue to make progress on these critical infrastructure projects, we’re not just upgrading roads and bridges — we’re enhancing safety and strengthening connectivity in communities large and small,” Busby said. “These investments will greatly improve travel conditions for commuter and commercial traffic alike."
Work continues on a large infrastructure project in Pike County to resurface 5 miles of I-55 from State Route 24 to U.S. 98, construct two roundabouts on U.S. 98 at the I-55 interchange, and raise four bridges over I-55, including Delaware Avenue, Park Avenue, Enterprise Road, and Robb Street. The project is expected to increase interstate traffic safety and optimize traffic flow at the U.S. 98 interchange.
The Delaware Avenue and the Park Avenue overpasses have been raised, and the Enterprise Road overpass was recently closed to traffic in order to raise the bridge. Clearing and drainage work is ongoing. Roundabout construction is underway at the U.S. 98 interchange at Summit, and crews are forming curbs on the eastern roundabout.
The nearly $76 million project was awarded to Barriere Construction of Laplace, Louisiana, and should wrap up in 2027.
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Both eastbound and westbound bridges over the Pearl River are being replaced as part of a project on U.S. 98 in Marion County. The project also includes bank stabilization efforts to help mitigate erosion and address scour issues. The eastbound bridge is being replaced first, and traffic has been shifted to the westbound bridge in a head-to-head configuration while construction is underway. Crews are pouring caps and installing drill shafts. Steel beam installation on the eastbound bridge recently began. On the riverbank, rip-rap has been placed.
The $57.7 million project was awarded to T.L. Wallace of Columbia, Mississippi, and is expected to be completed in 2027.
The contractor has begun Phase 2 of a project to replace a total of four bridges on State Route 149 between State Route 13 and U.S. 49 in Simpson County. Phase 1 called for the replacement of the Sellers Creek bridge, the Dabbs Creek bridge, and the Dabbs Creek relief box bridge. All three bridges are now open to traffic.
Phase 2 of the project calls for the replacement of the Strong River bridge, which closed to traffic in September. Work has resumed at the site following the collapse of a portion of the structure, which resulted in the deaths of three workers. An Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigation is ongoing. Crews are performing earthwork and driving piling for the foundation of the new bridge structure.
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This $25 million contract was awarded to T.L. Wallace. Phase I of the project is expected to wrap up in 2025, and Phase 2 is estimated to be complete by 2026.
An aging truss bridge on U.S. 98 over the Homochitto River is being replaced with a modern post-tension concrete bridge in Franklin County as part of a $25.7 million project. All drill shafts have been installed, and crews are forming and pouring caps. Concrete beams recently began installation. U.S. 98 is closed between State Route 556 and Berrytown Road while construction is ongoing.
This $25.7 million contract was awarded to Key, LLC of Madison, Mississippi, and is expected to be completed in summer 2026.
A project is ongoing in Smith County to implement a traditional intersection with a traffic signal at the intersection of State Route 28 and State Route 37 in Taylorsville, Mississippi. The contractor is placing new drainage pipe along SR 37, and crews continue to pour curb, gutter, concrete islands, and inlets.
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The $5.5 million project was awarded to Chris Albritton Construction of Laurel, Mississippi, and should be complete in 2025.
In Lawrence County, a project is underway to construct a roundabout at the intersection of State Route 27 and Thomas Jolly Dr. and overlay 8 miles of SR 27 from Dewey Ballard Road to just north of U.S. 84. Roundabout construction is partially complete, and much of the overlay is complete south of Thomas Jolly Drive.
The $5.3 million project was awarded to Walters Construction of Laurel and is expected to be complete this spring.
Work continues on a $4.5 million bridge replacement project on State Route 184 over White Sand Creek in Jefferson Davis County. Crews recently completed pouring the bridge deck and will soon begin constructing bridge rail and guardrail.
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The project was awarded to N.L. Carson Construction of Carthage, Mississippi, and is expected to wrap up in 2025.
A project has begun in Marion County to overlay 12 miles of State Route 43 from the Pearl River County line to State Route 13. The contractor has begun mainline paving and placing shoulder material.
The $4.1 million project was awarded to Southern Paving of Foxworth, Mississippi, and is anticipated to be complete this summer.
