State lawmakers allocated a historic amount of money to the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) during the 2023 legislative session to improve infrastructure and fully fund capacity projects.
MDOT received a total of nearly $2 billion, which includes roughly $1.5 billion in earmark-free appropriation as well as a $620 million supplemental appropriation. The additional funding will be spent on major construction projects, emergency road and bridge repair, and multimodal projects such as ports, rail, and airports.
MDOT’s $620 million supplemental appropriation will be allocated as follows:
- $450 million for capacity projects, which are construction projects that add lanes and/or build new roadways to increase traffic capacity.
- $100 million for the Emergency Road and Bridge Repair Fund (ERBRF), which provides funding to revitalize local roads and bridges across the state.
- $30 million for a new fund for multimodal projects to better address the needs of ports, airports and rails.
- $40 million in federal matching funds.
“This funding will allow for the further revival of the agency’s capacity program — meaning new construction— along with addressing other important needs,” Brad White, MDOT Executive Director, said. “The resulting projects will improve safety, enhance mobility and boost economic growth and development across Mississippi. I personally thank Governor Tate Reeves who first cast the vision for this type of investment.”
Additional funding from the 2023 legislative session will allow MDOT begin several major capacity projects that will increase safety, alleviate congestion, and aim to grow Mississippi’s economy.
Funded capacity projects now include:
- Pavement rehabilitation and widening on U.S. 49 from O’Neal Rd. to School Rd. in Harrison County. Construction on this $43 million project should begin in 2023.
- New alignment on State Route 15 from Union County line to 1 mile north of State Route 4 at Ripley in Tippah County. Construction on this $150 million project should begin in 2024.
- New alignment on State Route 2 from existing State Route 15 to State Route 15 bypass in Tippah County. Construction on this $45 million project should begin in 2024.
- Widening of State Route 19 from State Route 492 to Tucker in Neshoba County. Construction of this $65 million project should begin in 2024.
- Interchange improvement on the Flowers interchange on I-20 in Warren County. Construction of this $10 million project should begin in 2024.
- Widening on U.S. 90 from State Route 609 to Dolphin Dr. in Jackson County. Construction of this $60 million project should begin in 2024.
- Widening of I-55 from Church Rd. to State Route 302 in Desoto County. Construction of this partially funded $125 million project should begin in 2025.
- New alignment of State Route 7 from State Route 9 to just north of State Route 6 in Lafayette County. Construction of this partially funded $150 million project should begin in 2025.
