The westbound lanes of I-20 over Valley Street, in Hinds County, will be closed for bridge repairs following two trash fires that damaged the bridge.

“We depend on local governments to enforce vagrancy laws, but with everyone experiencing budget challenges, we’re all doing the best we can with what we have,” Melinda McGrath, the Mississippi Department of Transportation executive director, said. “MDOT does not police vagrancy laws underneath bridges across the state, but when damage is done, it is our responsibility to fix it.”

Gibson & Associates, Inc. won the contract for work and will be awarded approximately $313,000 to fix the bridge deck concrete and steel girders underneath the bridge span. 

McGrath said that closing the bridge for one weekend will save money, versus keeping the bridge open during fixes for approximately three months for significantly more money. 

I-20 will be closed after the I-55 south split at Exit 44 from 10 p.m. Friday, April 28, to 6 a.m. Monday, May 1. I-20 westbound ramps at State/Gallatin Street, Terry Road and I-55 northbound will be closed. Raymond Road, which runs underneath the bridge, will also be closed. 

The recommended detour will take westbound motorists off of I-20 and onto I-55 North to I-220 South to return to I-20.

Eastbound traffic on I-20 will not be affected by the closure. 

“We appreciate the patience of the public during this repair to a major travel and freight corridor,” McGrath said. “This repair will occur within the shortest timeframe and most efficient manner to reduce the impact of the traveling public.”