MCCOMB, MS — Commissioner Charles Busby, Southern Transportation District, announces updates to several Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) projects in southwest Mississippi.

“The southwestern portion of the state is seeing some exciting infrastructure work taking place right now, and its positive effects will be felt for decades to come,” Busby said. “Major interstate work, bridge replacements, intersection improvements, and other ongoing projects will ultimately move us toward a safer and more efficient transportation system, built to handle both current and future demands.”

A large infrastructure project in Pike County has begun 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 roundabout construction process has begun, and the westbound lanes of the U.S. 98 overpass have shifted to a head-to-head configuration in the eastbound lanes to facilitate work. Traffic shifts can be expected at the interchange while construction is underway; however, the U.S. 98 overpass should remain open to traffic. After the Delaware Avenue bridge is raised, other overpasses will close to traffic, one at a time, to allow similar processes to take place. The nearly $76 million project was awarded to Barriere Construction of Laplace, Louisiana, and should wrap up in 2027.

Work is progressing on a bridge replacement project over the Pearl River on U.S. 98 in Marion County, where both the eastbound and westbound bridges are being replaced. While the eastbound bridge is being replaced, traffic has been shifted to the westbound bridge in a head-to-head configuration. Trial drill shaft foundations are being installed, which will be followed by production shaft foundations. Crews are placing rip-rap on the riverbank to mitigate erosion and address scour issues. The $57.7 million project was awarded to T.L. Wallace of Columbia, Mississippi, and is expected to be completed in 2027.

A project to replace three bridges on State Route 149 between State Route 13 and U.S. 49 in Simpson County is making headway. The bridge decks are complete on all Phase 1 bridges, and crews are performing earthwork in preparation for paving the approaches. The bridges are closed to traffic for the duration of the project. This $25 million contract was awarded to T.L. Wallace, and Phase I of the project is expected to wrap up in 2025. Phase II will involve the replacement of the Strong River Bridge and will begin after Phase I is complete.  

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. Drill shaft installation is underway, and crews are constructing box culverts and performing earthwork to build up the approaches. 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 and is expected to be completed in summer 2026.     

Work is complete on a $10 million project to mill and overlay approximately 10 miles of U.S. 49 from Mount Olive to Magee. The contract was awarded to APAC - Mississippi, Inc.

Work is complete on a project to mill and overlay approximately 7 miles of U.S. 98 from the Bogue Chitto River to Industrial Park Road in Pike and Walthall counties. The $6 million project was awarded to Dickerson & Bowen of Brookhaven, Mississippi.

A project in Smith County is underway to improve the intersection of State Route 28 and State Route 37 in Taylorsville, Mississippi. Drainage work is ongoing, and crews are placing a pipe along State Route 37. Once construction is complete, State Route 28 and State Route 37 will have a traditional intersection alignment and a traffic signal. The $5.5 million project was awarded to Chris Albritton Construction of Laurel, Mississippi, and should be completed in 2025.

Work is underway on a $4.5 million bridge replacement project on State Route 184 over White Sand Creek in Jefferson Davis County. Crews are driving production piles and pouring caps. Bridge beams should be delivered and placed within the next month. The project was awarded to N.L. Carson Construction of Carthage, Mississippi, and is expected to wrap up in 2025.