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March 6, 2019
I-55 North bridge widening project on schedule in Madison County
JACKSON, MISS. – The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) is on schedule with a project to widen the northbound Interstate
55 bridge at Interstate 220.
“During peak drive times, particularly during the afternoon rush hour, a bottleneck develops on I-55 north at I-220,” said Commissioner Dick Hall, chair,
Mississippi Transportation Commission. “This project will address that bottleneck and decrease congestion while improving the safety of the traveling
public.”
The project will provide an additional lane on I-55 northbound from the I-220 exit ramp to the Natchez Trace exit ramp. Several interchange modifications
will be made to accommodate the new lane. The I-55 northbound bridge under the I-220 southbound flyover will be widened as part of the project.
Additionally, I-55 northbound from Countyline Road to the Natchez Trace will be milled and new asphalt will be placed.
Traffic has been shifted four feet to the inside shoulder to allow crews to have a safe work environment.
Work on pouring the columns and caps for the bridge widening is underway. Work to extend the box extension is also underway and necessary excavation is
expected to begin later this month.
As construction progresses, lane closures will be necessary. However, most lane closures will take place at night to reduce the impact to traffic.
Key Constructors, LLC, of Madison, was awarded the approximately $12.4 million construction contract. Work began in October 2018 and is expected to be
complete in summer 2020.
“This project will significantly reduce congestion and increase safety on a heavily traveled section of I-55 in the Jackson-Metro area,” Hall said. “We
ask for the traveling public’s patience as this project progresses and urge motorists to exercise extreme caution by slowing down and avoiding distractions
in construction zones.”
Work zones present new traffic patterns and configurations that may be unfamiliar to motorists. For information about how to navigate highway work zones
safely, visit GoMDOT.com/drivesmartms.
For more information about these or other MDOT maintenance and construction projects, visit MDOTtraffic.com,
download the free MDOT Traffic app or like and follow @MississippiDOT on Facebook and Twitter.
