MDOT photoInterstate 55 South

The Mississippi Department of Transportation has announced a progress update on safety and preservation projects in District 5.

“Several transportation projects in Hinds, Rankin and Lauderdale Counties are near completion,” said Commissioner Dick Hall. “The projects have improved the safety of the roadway for the traveling public and will help preserve and maintain these important thoroughfares.

•Crews completed a milling and overlay project on Interstate 59 in Lauderdale County from the U.S. Highway 45 interchange to the Russell Mount Gilead Road interchange. The estimated $5.3 million contract was awarded to APAC-Mississippi Inc. The project started last June and was completed in September pending vegetation growth.

•In Rankin County, MDOT completed the Highway 471 Expansion Project from Highway 80 to Grants Ferry Road in December, pending grass growth and some erosion control until vegetation is established.

Crews built a new railroad overpass to separate traffic from the railway, a new overpass over Interstate 20 and added a lane of traffic to an area experiencing economic growth and development. The $37.5 million project appropriated by the Mississippi Legislature began in February 2015, and the contractor awarded the project is Joe McGee Construction. 

•MDOT recently completed the bridge over Vaughn Creek on State Route 473 (Moncure Marble Road) in Hinds County after replacing the deficient structure. The bridge was completed ahead of schedule and is stronger and safer than the previous bridge. The project was estimated at $1.9 million, and Joe Magee Construction was awarded the project through the state bid process.

•Crews have completed a milling and overlay project on Interstate 20 from Highway 18 to the Interstate 20/Interstate 55 Interchange (The Stack) in Hinds and Rankin Counties. The estimated $9.2 million project began in May and was completed in October 2016. The contractor awarded the project through the state bid process was Dickerson & Bowen Inc.

•The railroad bridge replacement project on Interstate 20 west of Norrell Road in Hinds County is near completion. The estimated $12 million project began in spring 2015, and the contractor awarded the project is T.L. Wallace Construction Inc. The new wider and higher railroad overpass bridge is complete, and traffic has been moved onto the bridge. Crews are removing the old overpass and are finishing up paving and improving the roadway approaches to the bridge. The project is expected to be complete in the spring.

Interstate 55 South Project in Hinds County

MDOT crews continue to work on phase two of the Interstate 55 South Project from McDowell Road to Byram in Hinds County. Phase two began in April 2016, and the contract was awarded to Yates Construction with a bid of $85 million. Phase two is expected to be complete late summer 2018, and this section of the interstate will have six lanes when complete.

Crews recently shifted traffic to a head-to-head configuration from McDowell Road to Savannah Street to work on expanding the southbound lanes. Traffic will remain in this configuration for the remainder of construction. Due to crashes along the project, crews will have upcoming lane closures to work on repairing barrier walls and guardrails that were damaged by motorists.

Lakeland Drive in Rankin County

Work continues on expanding the Highway 25 corridor from four to six lanes from Airport Road to Grants Ferry Road in Rankin County. The Lakeland Drive Expansion Project is expected to be complete in the fall of 2017. The construction contract was awarded to Superior Asphalt Inc. through the state bid process and is estimated at $36.3 million.

“Work on Lakeland Drive is progressing on schedule,” said District 5 Engineer Brian Ratliff. “Crews are working on tying in the new lane on the expanded bridge, installing new traffic signals and leveling the roadway at intersections to tie into local roads.”