By Brian Livingston / Laurel Leader Call

For 47 years, the infamous S-curve has been a testament to man’s folly in Laurel.

But its days are numbered.

Construction is under way to correct the dangerous S-curve, giving reason for Laurel officials to celebrate.

On Friday, the golden shovels filled with Mississippi red clay were poised for the ceremonial toss on a picture perfect day at the intersection of Beacon and Royal Streets in Laurel. In the background, as they have for the past month, construction workers continued their labor on what will be the new and improved Interstate 59 corridor through the city. But it was the smiles on the faces of the officials holding the golden shovels that told the whole story.

The S-curve was touted in 1956 to be the answer for a failing downtown economy. The three-quarter mile section of Interstate 59 instead became a dangerous, and sometimes deadly, section of roadway that attached itself to the city of Laurel in a detrimental way.

“At first all we had was a plan,” said Larry L. “Butch” Brown, executive director of the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT). “But local government got together with their state and federal political leaders and with state agencies to find ways to get this project on the move. This reconstruction project is actually 15 years ahead of schedule, thanks in large part to the innovative financing available to city officials.”

Brown was speaking of MDOT’s HELP Program (Highway Enhancement through Local Partnerships) to secure $32 million to advance fund the project. HELP gives local governments the ability to issue bonds for large projects such as the S-curve reconstruction. Brown said that forward thinking boosted the project to the point it is today, in the actual construction phase.

“The tireless work of the political leaders of Mississippi, and that of local leaders has led us to this point,” said Wayne Brown, Southern District Transportation Commissioner.

Currently, the work on the S-curve itself involves preparing underground structure work for the bridge supports. In the next couple of weeks, residents in and around Laurel should see the actual supports being put into place.

E-mail Brian Livingston at community@laurelleaderall.com

S-curve history

1955: Construction began on relocated United States Highway 11 through Laurel. This project included earthwork and bridge construction.

1956: The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 provided a means of funding for the planned interstate system. U.S. Highway 11 in Laurel, already under construction, was redesignated as Interstate 59.

1960: Paving on Interstate 59 through Laurel began. The project was completed in 1961.

1986: An environmental study began for a project upgrade of Interstate 59 through Laurel. A location committee, consisting of MDOT and FHWA representatives, met on Jan. 9, 1986, to review the project and develop alternatives.

1988: The environmental assessment was completed. The result of the study was a plan to relocate Interstate 59 through the Laurel Housing Authority units on Beacon Street to straighten out the alignment.

1989: Negotiations began between the Laurel Housing Authority, Department of Housing and Urban Development and MDOT for acquisition of 72 housing units.

1990: Engineering consultant firm was hired to develop construction plans for the highway.

1992: MDOT proceeded with implementation of the replacement housing procedures after a cooperative agreement was reached with the Laurel Housing Authority and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

1995: A public meeting was held on Dec. 14, to discuss replacement housing solutions for the 72 Laurel Housing Authority units. MDOT hired an architectural consultant to begin developing plans for the new housing units.

1998: Property was acquired for the relocation of the Laurel Housing Authority units.

2002: Construction began on the new housing units.

2003: MDOT hired an engineering consulting firm to re-evaluate the design of the S-curve project using current traffic data. The latest data, from a 1980s survey, were not up to date and the resulting information led to the redesign of the southbound loop from the south side of Beacon Street to the north side.

2004: A public hearing was held on July 27, providing the public the opportunity to view the revised loop design at Beacon Street. Requests were made at the public hearing to extend Royal Street from its existing intersection with Beacon Street over to Jefferson Street near the existing South Central Regional Medical Center emergency entrance.

2005: MDOT hired an engineering consultant to modify the construction plans by redesigning the Beacon Street loop and incorporating other design elements requested at the public hearing. The SCRMC emergency entrance will be relocated to connect to the new Royal Street extension.

2006: The construction project was let to contract on June 27.