NEWTON, Miss.- District 5 has been approved for continued improvement on safety and efficiency projects by the Mississippi Department of Transportation.
“Construction projects in Hinds, Rankin, and Madison counties are moving forward,” said Transportation Commissioner Dick Hall. “These important projects are necessary for maintaining our current roadways as well as improving safety and efficiency in higher traffic areas.”
The following projects have been approved:
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 one was completed on schedule, and phase two began in April. The contract for phase two of the project was awarded to Yates Construction of Philadelphia with a bid of $85 million that is approximately five percent under the state’s estimate. Phase two is expected to be complete late summer 2018.
“Work is progressing nicely on the I-55 South Project,” said District 5 Engineer Brian Ratliff. “Our crews are currently working on reconstructing the new permanent median walls and beginning to place new lighting in the medians.”
Crews recently implemented a partial traffic shift for the southbound lanes of Interstate 55 between Savannah Street and Wynndale Road. This traffic shift put northbound and southbound traffic on a head-to-head configuration. A second traffic shift, from McDowell Road to Savannah Street, is scheduled for later this fall. Once this second shift is implemented, traffic will be on the head-to-head configuration for the remainder of construction.
Once the new median construction is complete, crews will have reconstructed the southbound lanes bringing this section of the interstate from four to six lanes. New roadway lighting will be installed in the median as well as retaining walls between the southbound lanes of Interstate 55 and Frontage Road. A new traffic signal will be installed at the Byram Interchange along with Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) components such as traffic cameras and dynamic message signs.
Railroad Bridge Replacement in Hinds County
MDOT is making progress on a railroad bridge replacement project on Interstate 20 west of Norrell Road in Hinds County. The estimated $12 million project began in spring 2015 and is expected to be complete in the fall. The contractor awarded the project is T.L. Wallace Construction Inc.
Upon completion, there will be a new, wider and taller railroad overpass bridge.Crews are working on the bridge deck as well as roadway approaches for the new traffic pattern once the project is complete.
Increasing Efficiency in Rankin County
MDOT continues progress on the Highway 471 Expansion Project from Highway 80 to Grants Ferry Road in Rankin County. Crews have finished pouring the bridge decks on the new bridges over Interstate 20, and final paving is currently underway.
The project began in February 2015 and is expected to be complete by the end of 2016. The $37.5 million project was appropriated by the Mississippi Legislature, and the contractor awarded the project is Joe McGee Construction.
Work also 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 began in October 2015 and is expected to be complete in the fall of 2017. The project will relieve traffic congestion, improve the road surface and add technology improvements that will make the area safer and more efficient.
The construction contract was awarded to Superior Asphalt Inc. through the state bid process and is estimated at $36.3 million. Currently, crews are working concrete curbing and drainage in the median from Airport Road to Old Fannin Road, expanding the bridge over Flowood Drive, installing the groundwork for the new permanent traffic signals, and outside widening from Old Fannin Road to Grants Ferry Road.
