Photo courtesy of Mississippi DOT
A major expansion project continues along 4.6 mi. of Miss. 19 from Tucker to Philadelphia in Neshoba County. When finished, crews will have widened the roadway from two to four lanes.
Willie Simmons, chair of the Mississippi Transportation Commission and an official with the state Department of Transportation (MDOT), has announced updates to several of the state agency's road and bridge projects across the state's central region.
"As these projects continue making headway, the safety and mobility of our state's infrastructure increases," he said in a March 4 news release. "As commissioner, I hope to continue to be able to make this kind of investment into our state's transportation network. These are your tax dollars hard at work."
He added, "We are so grateful to [Gov. Tate Reeves], the state legislature, and our federal delegation for providing the commission new funding that enables us to do projects like these which provide a safer and more efficient transportation system in the state. In addition, we give thanks to MDOT staff and contractors for their commitment and superb job performance."
Following is an MDOT update of each road and bridge projects still under way.
Mississippi Highway 19 Expansion
A major expansion project continues along 4.6 mi. of Miss. 19 from Tucker to Philadelphia in Neshoba County. When finished, crews will have widened the roadway from two to four lanes.
Phase I is already complete, and Phase II is currently under way clearing, grubbing and milling the southbound lanes of Miss. 19, in addition to removing old box culverts and bridges before building new ones. Lanes are also being built on the north end of the project, and construction workers are also placing new pipes, realigning county roads and paving ditches.
In the third and final phase of the project, the contractor, W.G. Yates and Sons Construction in Philadelphia will place traffic in the four-lane configuration, lay the final lift of asphalt, and provide permanent striping.
The $36 million road project is expected to wrap up late in 2024.
OGFC Pavement Removal in Metro Jackson
An $11 million effort to remove open-graded friction course (OGFC) pavement on the Jackson area's interstates is ongoing. Work is happening along Interstate 20 from McRaven Road to the I-20/I-55 split, and from there to east of Miss. 468 and I-55 throughout Hinds County.
Crews also are milling and overlaying the Gallatin Street connector ramp to I-20 westbound and the Gallatin Street loop ramp to I-20 eastbound. A portion of the improvement consists of placing high-friction surface treatment on the ramp from I-55 southbound to I-20 westbound.
In addition, the contractor, Brookhaven-based Dickerson & Bowen Inc., currently has its crews working along I-20 at Ellis Avenue in the capital city. Once the milling has taken place on the problem areas, MDOT noted, workers will place a 1-in. overlay to smooth the highway's riding conditions.
The overnight work is expected to last through this summer.
U.S. Highway 49 in Rankin County
A major mill and overlay along 9.2 mi. of U.S. 49 from the Simpson County line to just south of the town of Florence continues to make progress, according to the transportation agency.
The upgrade includes repairing failed areas, re-leveling underlying concrete pavement with pressure grouting, widening the turn lanes at the intersection with Star Road, and replacing deficient guardrail.
Crews have so far completed pressure grouting concrete in failed areas of the highway, finished a turn lane widening at Star and Eagle Post roads, and made a needed ditch repair south of Star Road.
The project is awaiting full depth punchout repairs on concrete pavement, and pothole patching operations have continued throughout the effort.
The $11.4 million project was awarded to APAC-MS Inc. of Jackson.
The remaining work is expected to wrap up in the spring of 2025.
Interstate 20 in Western Hinds County
A pavement restoration project stretching 16 mi. on I-20 from the Warren County line to the Natchez Trace Parkway began March 4.
The scope of work includes milling and overlaying the existing OGFC pavement, repairing failed areas in underlying concrete pavement, performing fiber-reinforced polymer patching of spalls in the existing concrete pavement and upgrading any deficient guardrail.
Superior Asphalt of Byram won the $9.9 million contract from MDOT; the contractor is expected to complete the job later this fall.
U.S. Highway 51 in Madison County
Earthwork is now under way on a project that will improve the intersection of U.S. 51 and Green Oak Lane. Islands have been poured along the west side of the junction, and the placement of stone and the preliminary lift of asphalt has begun.
The improvements are designed to widen the roadways and install intersection channelization and a traffic signal system. MDOT noted the project will help provide the U.S. 51 tie-in necessary for the adjacent Reunion Parkway.
The $2.2 million contract was awarded to Hemphill Construction Co. Inc. in Florence. The estimated completion date is sometime this summer.
Mississippi Highway 16 in Leake County
This project consists of milling and overlaying a total of 5 mi. of Miss. 16 from the Madison County line to west of Miss. 25 in Leake County. Additionally, crews from Dickerson & Bowen are repairing failed areas in the existing pavement and replacing guardrail and deficient signs.
Drivers in the area are urged to pay attention to the posted construction signs.
The $2.8 million improvement effort is slated to finish during the summer.
Interstate 20 in Scott County
Yet another mill and overlay job along 17 mi. of I-20 from the Rankin County line to just east of Miss. 501 in Scott County got under way earlier this year.
The scope of work includes repairing failed areas in the existing pavement, pressure grouting and repair of longitudinal joints, removal of debris from existing drainage structures, tree clearing, replacement of deficient guardrail, upgrading traffic signal detection radar at the Miss. 35 interchange, and epoxy repairs and resealing to joints on various bridges across the project's footprint.
APAC-MS has the contract worth $28 million and should complete the job during the summer of 2025.
Mississippi Highway 14 in Noxubee County
MDOT reported that a mill and overlay project across 13 mi. of Miss. 14 from the Winston County line to west of Miss. 145 is nearing its end in Noxubee County. The current work includes repairing failed areas in the existing pavement and replacing guardrail and deficient signs.
As of March 4, the completed improvements included repairing problems in the highway's mainline and shoulder, performing mainline milling and paving, the placement of temporary stripes and rumble strips, guardrail replacement, overlay of county roads and placing crushed stone along shoulders.
Crews with APAC-MS are working to finish in time for the final inspection on the $8.2 million project.
Mississippi Highway 15 in Neshoba County
A bridge repair recently began on Miss. 15 over the Kansas City Southern Railroad in Neshoba County. The scope of work includes the replacement of prestressed concrete plate bearings, bridge railing fixes, repairing spalled areas with epoxy mortar, hydro-demolition, a concrete overlay of the bridge deck, resealing of bridge joints and undersealing of the end bents.
When crews are working on the bridge, one lane will remain open with traffic control devices in place that will allow travel to move in each direction. Improvements are now under way on the northbound lane and once they are complete, crews will switch to the southbound side.
The $1 million project was awarded to Key LLC, and MDOT officials expect the job to be complete this fall.
Completion Near On Miss. 16 in Madison County
An 11-mi.-long mill and overlay project on Miss. 16 from Miss. 43 to Farmhaven is approaching the finish line in Madison County.
The upgrades made there included repairing damaged roadway and the replacement of guardrail and signage. Another portion of the project provided for the removal of asphalt and the installation of a concrete inlay on sections of both state highways.
The last step before work wraps later this spring will involve asphalt grinding and the placement of both rumble strips and thermoplastic striping.
The $4.7 million contract was awarded to APAC-MS.
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