The Mississippi Department of Transportation issued the following statement.
In the past Legislative Session, the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) was allocated $4 million by the Mississippi Legislature to assist in preconstruction activities on a project to widen State Route 25 in Rankin County.
“I’d like to thank Senators Josh Harkins, Dean Kirby and the House members representing Rankin County for assisting with funding to widen SR 25. With a preconstruction estimate of $5.5 million, this $4 million will go a long way in funding the beginning stages of this critical infrastructure improvement project,” said Central Transportation Commissioner Willie Simmons. “This money will go towards activities such as survey, hydraulic analysis, roadway and bridge design, Right of Way acquisition, and utility relocation. Once these items have been completed, as funding becomes available, we can move to construction.”
The project calls for the widening of SR 25 from Grant’s Ferry Road to State Route 471 in Rankin County. Widening the roadway from four to six lanes will ultimately expand capacity and improve safety and mobility along the SR 25 corridor.
“Widening this stretch of highway would go a long way in improving safe driving conditions and travel times for both local and commercial traffic throughout the area,” said Sen. Josh Harkins. “We are happy to assist MDOT in preconstruction activities for such a critical project on a heavily traveled roadway like SR 25. I look forward to seeing this project develop, move towards the construction phase and ultimately, see the safety and economic benefits that come from widening this stretch of highway.”
“I continue to be grateful that the Legislature recognized a need to fund the phase one expansion of Lakeland Drive,” said Flowood Mayor Gary Rhoads. “The resulting economic development combined with the growth of five schools now require that we address construction of phase two. The funding of phase two is fundamental to ensure the safety of our school children as well as everyone else driving along Lakeland Drive.”
This 3.5-mile stretch of SR 25 sees an average of 17,000 vehicles daily. With an ever-growing increase in traffic, the design will include safety enhancements throughout the SR 25 corridor.
“Although construction of this widening project is dependent upon future funding, we are working closely with Flowood Mayor Gary Rhoads and the Legislative leadership to ensure we will have the necessary funding at the appropriate time,” said Simmons. “This is progress for our state and its transportation infrastructure as we work towards finding innovative ways to build and maintain a safe and reliable transportation network for future generations.”
24 comments:
They would be wise to widen Hwy 25 all the way to Holly Bush Rd. All the development out that way is going to require widening in the next few years.
Agree. Keep going to Holly Bush Rd.
Agree but wonder if doing so would run into delays due to wetlands issues?
Republican Flowood explodes....Democrat Jackson implodes. LMMFAO.
It makes more sense to elevate Hwy25 and add frontage roads to the Dogwood area, to keep traffic flowing safely. Too much going-on with all the turns and distractions.
Get this part done first. The slowdown starts at the Highland Bluff Elementary school.
Gotta make sure all the rich people out that way can get to Dogwood .0001 seconds faster.
10:02 with that mentality, we should have left all roads gravel 60 years ago
@9:16 AM, where do you think all those "Republicans in Flowood' are headed while they create the traffic jams? Well, I"ll tell you. They're headed to their jobs in "Democrat Jackson". Without Jackson all those Republicans would be on welfare. Be careful what you wish for.
10:02, by “rich people” do t you mean all the working taxpayers paying for all the freeloaders in Mississippi?
@10:59
That will all change as soon as the MSGOP relocates the majority of state offices to Rankin and Madison.
They're headed to their jobs in "Democrat Jackson".
Less so every year. The stampede of employers jamming the city exits continues unabated.
I'm on this road daily. The traffic problems end at Dogwood.
Meanwhile, highway improvements needed in Hinds County aren't happening where needed.
@8:45, you think MS politicians would ever be proactive?
When will we see a dedicated speed-lane only used by MHP vehicles transporting governors up and down 25 and 49? For far too long they've been expected to get to banquets, quail shoots and SEC football games at speeds limited to 85 mph. This is unacceptable in the modern era when we are being compared favorably to Texas, Florida and Tennessee.
12:36 no they don't. I drive it every day and it really bogs down from Castlewoods to the new school both mornings and evenings. Also they need to fix 471 from Baker Lane to 471. Talk about a back up.
As someone who has worked in DT Jxn for the past 27 years, it is scary how dead and how few people are downtown, it was in bad shape even before COVID. The mids 90s were the zenith, the amount of DT workers has decreased significantly since then, many to Highland Colony Parkway.
10:59 just because people worked in Jackson in the 90s in large numbers does not make it true now.
You can keep saying that commuters show up in hordes but that also won't make it true.
And if you are correct then heck, put up a toll bridge if you think the rich commuter republicans will pay good money to enter your fine city. If you feel it is such a sought-out destination, that should help Jackson's empty tax coffers?
I won't be affected either way, and since I cannot name a single acquaintance that still works in Jackson I don't think anyone I know would object to a toll bridge at the Jackson city limits.
1226 - just what highway improvements are needed in Jackson that aren't being addressed?
Gotta keep it down to state highway issues, not local roads, for your comment and complaint to be valid.
I'll wait for your answer, but might get up to go pee and get some popcorn cause I don't expect you to come back with any reasonable answer.
@3:01 - you are correct about Downtown Jackson. But the commute into Jackson is still heavy with workers going to many other parts of Jackson.
If not - tell me why the traffic on Lakeland into Jackson is backed up in the morning, and reverse starting around 430 in the afternoon.
And, same for Highway 49 coming up from Simpson County. And for I55 north coming to the stack; along with the traffic both ways on I20 to the stack.
The traffic is still headed to and from Jackson, but not longer headed to Capitol Street area. And with the healthcare facilities, government offices, and a few other large employers, it will continue to be whether those in the burbs want to acknowledge it or ignore it.
9:44 - If you paid even minimal attention, you'd know that state agencies have been moving out of Jackson, one at a time, for many years. Once the Certificate of Need scam is neutered, you'll see that 49 and 20 traffic hitting 55 and passing right through Jacktown, headed north.
A cheap fix for Lakeland flow in general is to synchronize the traffic lights. I've been on Hwy 25, early Sunday mornings with scant traffic, and gotten caught by every damn light in a sequence of 8 or more.
Wonder who Rhodes will add to his tip jar collection with this project?
They can make it 8 lanes, 10, 12, whatever. You still gotta deal with a redlight every 20 frigging yards.
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