NEWTON, MS — Commissioner Willie Simmons, Chairman of the Mississippi Transportation Commission, announces updates to several Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) projects across central Mississippi.

“Construction projects are continuing to make headway across the district, improving the safety and mobility of our state’s infrastructure,” Simmons said. “Please slow down and stay alert for both construction and maintenance crews working to see these projects through.”

The major interstate improvement project across I-20 and parts of I-55 and I-220 in the Jackson-metro area is nearing completion. The milling and paving portions of the project are complete. Striping crews are currently working to remove and replace thermoplastic stripe before placing rumble strips. Remaining work entails miscellaneous cleanup efforts sitewide along with guardrail repairs.

“We appreciate the public allowing our crews the time and space to make these interstates safer and smoother,” Simmons said. “During remaining work hours, please continue to stay vigilant for our crews and slow down when approaching active work zones so we can finish up this critical improvement project as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

Remaining work will continue during overnight hours to limit the impact to traffic. The $14 million project was awarded to Dickerson & Bowen, Inc. of Jackson, Mississippi. The project remains on track to wrap up this fall.

The mill and overlay of 9.2 miles of U.S. 49 from the Simpson County line to just south of Florence continues making progress. Work includes repairing failed areas, releveling underlying concrete pavement with pressure grouting, widening the turn lanes at Star Road, and upgrading deficient guardrail.

Crews have completed pressure grouting concrete in failed areas, turn lane widening at Star Road and Eagle Post Road, ditch repair south of Stay Road, and punchout repairs in concrete pavement. Mainline paving operations are also complete. Guardrail is being installed across the project limits with shoulder gravel placement to follow.

The $11.4 million project was awarded to APAC-MS, Inc. of Jackson. Lane closures will take place overnight to limit traffic impact. Remaining work is expected to wrap up by the end of this year.

A major expansion project along 4.6 miles of State Route 19 from Tucker to Philadelphia in Neshoba County is making headway. The project expands SR 19 from two to four lanes. Phase I construction is complete as crews work to complete Phase II.

Work in progress includes clearing and grubbing, milling southbound SR 19 lanes, building county roads onto the new alignment, removing old box culverts and bridges, constructing new ones, and hauling borrow and excess excavation.

Phase III will place traffic in the four-lane configuration, apply the final lift of asphalt, and provide permanent striping. The $36 million contract was awarded to W.G. Yates and Sons Construction of Philadelphia, Mississippi. Remaining work is expected to wrap up later this year.

A project to repair each I-55 bridge over U.S. 51 and the CNIC railroad is making progress in Madison County. The scope of the repairs includes replacement of bridge bearings, repair of spalled areas with epoxy mortar, installation of hybrid polymer concrete overlay, re-sealing of bridge joints, and fencing installation.

Temporary construction signs are in place to alert the public of the overnight lane closures. Bearing pad replacements, epoxy repairs, and cleaning bridge caps are complete, and crews recently finished the hybrid polymer concrete overlay along with thermoplastic striping and raised pavement marker placement.

Remaining work includes the placement of fencing along the slope, paving, and miscellaneous cleanup. The $2.4 million contract was awarded to Key, LLC of Madison, Mississippi, and will be completed by the fall.

A mill and overlay of 17 miles of I-20 from the Rankin County line to 0.25 miles east of State Route 501 continues in Scott County. 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 to radar at the State Route 35 interchange, epoxy repairs, and resealing joints on various bridges throughout the project.

Construction signs are in place, and the pressure grouting and failed area repairs are complete. Mainline paving, clearing, fence repair, and joint sealing work remains underway. The $28.2 million contract was awarded to APAC-MS. The anticipated completion date is summer 2025.

On the western side of Hinds County, a pavement restoration project is currently underway. The project includes 16 miles of interstate from the Warren County line to the Natchez Trace Parkway. The scope of work includes milling and overlaying the existing OGFC pavement, repairing failed areas in underlying concrete pavement, fiber reinforced polymer patching of spalls in the existing concrete pavement, and upgrading deficient guardrail.

Crews have completed the ramp widening. Milling, paving, and guardrail repairs are underway. The $9.9 million project was awarded to Superior Asphalt of Byram, Mississippi. Work is expected to wrap up this fall.

A bridge preservation project is currently underway on the I-55 southbound exit ramp to Nissan Parkway (Exit 118B) in Madison County. The scope of the project includes removal and replacement of bridge end pavements and end walls, replacement of bridge bearings, installation of joint seals, drainage improvements, slope reinforcements, and rip rap placement.

Work underway consists of clearing, grubbing, and fence removal. The closure of the exit ramp will remain in place until approximately October 11 to allow crews to safely perform the work. Signs are in place to alert southbound drivers of the closure and detour, which will direct traffic to exit at Sowell Road and take I-55 north back to Nissan Parkway.

The $2 million project was awarded to Key, LLC. The remainder of the project is expected to wrap up next summer.