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

“Major projects that will have lasting effects on the people and economy of southeast Mississippi are making good progress after a productive construction season, and we expect to embark on even more large, impactful projects in this area in the next year,” King said.

A $7 million project to widen and overlay State Route 29 from west of I-59 to the intersection of State Route 28 is nearing completion in Jones County. This project was awarded to Warren Paving of Hattiesburg and is expected to be complete fall 2023.Work is progressing on a $212.6 million project to grade, drain, bridge, and pave approximately nine miles of State Route 57 from I-10 to Vancleave. The project will widen SR 57 from two to four lanes and create a new four-lane alignment near the Vancleave area to alleviate area congestion and expand the capacity of the roadway, which is a hurricane evacuation route.

Clearing is nearly complete and earthwork operations are underway. The contractor is working on drainage culvert installations between the Gautier Vancleave Road interchange and Twin Magnolia Lane, at the Jim Ramsay Road interchange, and along Jim Ramsay Road. Construction continues at seven of the project’s 13 bridge sites with work that involves installing concrete piling, girders and decks, driving test and production piles, and constructing work bridges. Dry weather has allowed for the rapid installation of erosion control items and embankments.

The project was awarded to W.G. Yates and Sons Construction Company of Jackson and is expected to wrap up in 2027.

A safety improvement project is ongoing in Forrest County on I-59. This $66.7 million project stretches 14 miles from the Lamar County line to just south of Moselle. Grading and paving at Monroe Road interchange is complete, and rubblizing and paving are underway in the inside lanes from Monroe Road (Exit 73) to Evelyn Gandy Parkway/State Route 42 (Exit 69). This project was awarded to Dunn Roadbuilders of Laurel and is expected to be complete in 2024.A $37 million project is underway to mill and overlay I-59 from just north of the Louisiana state line to McNeill. The project also involves pier protection for bridges, new asphalt with a drainage layer, and ramp improvements. Pier protection wall installation is complete. Crews are now working to repair failed areas and mainline paving is underway. This project was awarded to Huey P. Stockstill of Picayune and is expected to be completed by early 2024.A project is underway to overlay U.S. 84 in Jones County from the beginning of state maintenance in Laurel, just west of I-59, to the Wayne County line. Milling and paving is complete. Shoulder work is taking place and permanent striping remains. This $14 million project was awarded to Dunn Roadbuilders and is expected to be completed this fall.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. The surface lift of asphalt is being placed on local roads, and crossovers and permanent striping will follow. This $41 million contract was awarded to T.L. Wallace Construction of Columbia and is expected to wrap up in fall 2023.A $13 million project to mill and overlay seven miles of I-59 from just south of the Hillsdale interchange to the Lamar County line is nearing completion. Open-Graded Friction Course pavement is being placed. This project was awarded to Warren Paving and is expected to be complete in fall 2023.Crews have made headway on a bridge replacement project to replace the State Route 42 bridge over Tallahalla Creek in Perry County. The post tension system has been installed. Remaining beams are being installed, and deck forming will follow. Geotextile fabric and stone base placement on the approach is nearly complete. This $17 million project was awarded to Cotton Creek Transport of Laurel. The bridge replacement is expected to be completed in 2024.A $4.2 million project is underway on State Route 43 in Pearl River County to replace the Hogpen Branch Bridge. Clearing and grubbing have been completed, and the contractor is driving production piles. SR 43 is currently closed to through traffic from Pine Grove Road to Rock Ranch Road while the project is ongoing. The contract for this project was awarded to Chris Albritton Construction of Laurel and is expected to wrap up spring 2024.