Mississippi

[Stephane Dumas]

MDOT to start MS 475 connection to US 80:

http://www.my601.com/news/local/story/MDOT-to-start-work-on-Rankin-bypass/0DXivtQZF0C0lQE7_S_3Bg.cspx

Is it related to the once proposed, Airport Parkway? Here a map including the MS-475 improvements http://www.theairportparkway.com/images/projectmaplarge.jpg

[berberry]

Is it related to the once proposed, Airport Parkway?

I think the interchange and mini-bypass will eventually constitute the southern end of the parkway.  The map you posted certainly seems to suggest as much.  Traffic will obviously be able to continue to I-20 and beyond, but I think it's gonna be just open, toll-free highway south of that interchange, mostly using the roadway that now exists south of the roundabout.

[msubulldog]

1) Any reason for many new interstate shields I have seen installed over the last 3 years including the state name?
2) Any reason for the control city on I-55 between Jackson and Grenada being "upgraded" from Grenada to Memphis?

[golden eagle]

^^

I've always been of the opinion that Grenada and McComb should not be control cities for I-55 and that Memphis and New Orleans should be the only cities signed on I-55. Louisiana signs Jackson (and not McComb) for I-55 north of Hammond and Tennessee does the same for I-55 going through Memphis and not signing Grenada.

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

^^

I've always been of the opinion that Grenada and McComb should not be control cities for I-55 and that Memphis and New Orleans should be the only cities signed on I-55. Louisiana signs Jackson (and not McComb) for I-55 north of Hammond and Tennessee does the same for I-55 going through Memphis and not signing Grenada.

I'll second that opinion.

[UptownRoadGeek]

They've changed the control cities in MS?

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

They've changed the control cities in MS?

I think the last several posts were more of a wishlist than an actual directive from MDOT.

[golden eagle]

Is it related to the once proposed, Airport Parkway?

I think the interchange and mini-bypass will eventually constitute the southern end of the parkway.  The map you posted certainly seems to suggest as much.  Traffic will obviously be able to continue to I-20 and beyond, but I think it's gonna be just open, toll-free highway south of that interchange, mostly using the roadway that now exists south of the roundabout.

I was out at Dogwood Festival Market today and I saw some road construction just south of the mall. I thought it might be the north segment of the Airport Parkway, but from looking at the map Stephane provided the link to, I believe this is part of the East Metro Parkway that will extend down to Brandon.

[Stephane Dumas]

I spotted on MS-25 this overpass who's only used for MS-25 northeastbound traffic, is it a planned overpass for the airport parkway connector or a former railroad overpass? http://maps.google.ca/maps?ll=32.339696,-90.076936&spn=0.007007,0.013733&sll=32.298757,-90.18481&sspn=0.150968,0.256119&gl=ca&vpsrc=0&z=17&layer=c&cbll=32.339114,-90.076235&panoid=9SfYgEsm-a7g6hPgOHvbUg&cbp=12,222.85,,0,0.56

[froggie]

Former railroad grade.  Rail line was abandoned years ago, but not before the now-northbound lanes of Lakeland Dr (MS 25) were built.

[brownpelican]

Emergency road work to stabilize unsafe stretches of I-55 from McDowell Street in Jackson to Byram begins tonight with a closure of the left lane on I-55 South from Savannah Street to Byram.

http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20110921/NEWS/110921020/Emergency-work-55-South-begin-tonight?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Home

I thought MDOT was to start widening this stretch of 55 from four to six lanes. 

[brownpelican]

MDOT has installed new guide signs across the Jackson area. A glaring mistake: The signs for exits to US 51/State Street off I-55 and I-20 have omitted the US 51 shield...and there still aren't any US 51 shields on I-55 from Pearl/Pascagoula Streets to County Line Road, on Pascagoula and Pearl Streets and on State Street from US 80 to Pearl/Pascagoula streets. 

[UptownRoadGeek]

I see that they've added "New Orleans" and "Memphis" to all of the signs that used to mention only smaller towns.

[Grzrd]

Work on MS 9 from Pontotoc to Sherman is scheduled to begin in July:

I ran across this article from August discussing the ceremonial groundbreaking for the Pontotc to Sherman section of MS 9:
http://nems360.com/view/full_story/15050580/article-Highway-9--Essential-for-Toyota
It is anticipated to have the fastest completion of any significant highway in Mississippi history and should provide some good roadgeeking opportunities during the next year to observe the anticipated rapid progress.

This article from July indicates that construction on the 12+ mile section began on July 5 and should be completed by September 17, 2012:
http://www.pontotoc360.com/view/full_story/14794262/article-Hwy--9-set-to-finish-September-2012?instance=home_news_right

[NE2]

Seems like MS 9 would be a better route for through Corridor V traffic than the under-construction MS 76.

[codyg1985]

Seems like MS 9 would be a better route for through Corridor V traffic than the under-construction MS 76.

Especially since MS 76 (or US 278 if it is ever signed as such) will need a bypass of Tupelo, and even with that bypass it would require drivers to jaunt down US 45 to access MS 76 from US 78 (unless a direct connection between MS 76 and US 78 is planned)...

[NE2]

Seems like MS 9 would be a better route for through Corridor V traffic than the under-construction MS 76.

Especially since MS 76 (or US 278 if it is ever signed as such) will need a bypass of Tupelo, and even with that bypass it would require drivers to jaunt down US 45 to access MS 76 from US 78 (unless a direct connection between MS 76 and US 78 is planned)...

That bypass is under construction:
http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=34.2203&lon=-88.777&zoom=13&layers=M http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=34.2203~-88.777&lvl=13&sty=h

[codyg1985]

Seems like MS 9 would be a better route for through Corridor V traffic than the under-construction MS 76.

Especially since MS 76 (or US 278 if it is ever signed as such) will need a bypass of Tupelo, and even with that bypass it would require drivers to jaunt down US 45 to access MS 76 from US 78 (unless a direct connection between MS 76 and US 78 is planned)...

That bypass is under construction:
http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=34.2203&lon=-88.777&zoom=13&layers=M http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=34.2203~-88.777&lvl=13&sty=h

Interesting...it looks like the part between the Natchez Trace Pkwy and MS 145 is being built as a freeway. I wonder if this will include a freeway/freeway interchange at US 45?

[NE2]

Interesting...it looks like the part between the Natchez Trace Pkwy and MS 145 is being built as a freeway. I wonder if this will include a freeway/freeway interchange at US 45?

Not as part of the current construction (MS 145 to US 45 uses an existing four-lane road).

[Grzrd]

(unless a direct connection between MS 76 and US 78 is planned)...

http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=34.2203&lon=-88.777&zoom=13&layers=M http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=34.2203~-88.777&lvl=13&sty=h

The legislation for High Priority Corridor 42 sections A & B speaks of an interchange between HPC 42 (for practical purposes at this interchange ARC Corridor V) and US 78 (Future I-22) near Fulton MS:
https://www.aaroads.com/high-priority/table.html

Also, elsewhere on this website, the discussion regarding Corridor V, circa 2005 (https://www.aaroads.com/high-priority/corr11.html), mentions plans for Corridor V to be extended from Tupelo eastward to Plantersville.  Looking at the Bing aerial that NE2 provided in his post, I'm guessing that the anticipated future alignment for HPC 42 will be something along the lines of Tupelo to Plantersville, continue south of Tombigbee State Park to near Abney, and then proceed somewhat northeasterly to the US78/MS 25N interchange east of Fulton.

Also, IIRC MDOT used MS 76 as a temporary designation for the bypass north of Pontotoc until it was completed.  I suspect that once the new terrain construction in Tupelo is completed and open to traffic, it will be signed as MS 6 (although MDOT may wait until there is a connection with "old" MS 6 in Plantersville).

If anyone has a link to a good map of the planned alignment from Tupelo to Fulton, I would be very interested in seeing it!

[NE2]

The legislation for High Priority Corridor 42 sections A & B speaks of an interchange between HPC 42 (for practical purposes at this interchange ARC Corridor V) and US 78 (Future I-22) near Fulton MS:
https://www.aaroads.com/high-priority/table.html

The portion of Corridor V of the Appalachian development highway system from Interstate Route 55 near Batesville, Mississippi, to the intersection with Corridor X of the Appalachian development highway system near Fulton, Mississippi.

Since Corridor X begins at Fulton, this just means it follows MS 76-US 45-US 78-MS 25. See the map at the end of http://www.arc.gov/images/programs/transp/adhs_status_report_2010/ADHS2010StatusReportMississippi.pdf.

[Grzrd]

The legislation for High Priority Corridor 42 sections A & B speaks of an interchange between HPC 42 (for practical purposes at this interchange ARC Corridor V) and US 78 (Future I-22) near Fulton MS:
https://www.aaroads.com/high-priority/table.html

The portion of Corridor V of the Appalachian development highway system from Interstate Route 55 near Batesville, Mississippi, to the intersection with Corridor X of the Appalachian development highway system near Fulton, Mississippi.

Since Corridor X begins at Fulton, this just means it follows MS 76-US 45-US 78-MS 25. See the map at the end of http://www.arc.gov/images/programs/transp/adhs_status_report_2010/ADHS2010StatusReportMississippi.pdf.

Thanks.  Great catch.  

It looks like MS 76 (future MS 6?) diverges from Corridor V at US 45 and I made the mistake of thinking of Corridor V and MS 6 as being one and the same to Plantersville....  

[Grzrd]

I ran across this article from August discussing the ceremonial groundbreaking for the Pontotc to Sherman section of MS 9:
http://nems360.com/view/full_story/15050580/article-Highway-9--Essential-for-Toyota
It is anticipated to have the fastest completion of any significant highway in Mississippi history and should provide some good roadgeeking opportunities during the next year to observe the anticipated rapid progress.
This article from July indicates that construction on the 12+ mile section began on July 5 and should be completed by September 17, 2012:
http://www.pontotoc360.com/view/full_story/14794262/article-Hwy--9-set-to-finish-September-2012?instance=home_news_right

As of mid-September, the MS 9 project was approximately 44% complete and approximately 100 days ahead of schedule (an October 27, 2011 article):
http://nems360.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Highway+9+well+ahead+of+schedule%20&id=16188586

"Construction of the new Mississippi Highway 9 from Sherman to Pontotoc continues at what Department of Transportation officials describe as a record-setting pace, with completion possible well before the contract date in December 2012.
The work by Eutaw Construction started July 5 on the 12-plus-mile four-lane, limited-access artery. DOT District Engineer Bill Jamieson said this week the work was 44 percent complete in mid-September - 16.7 percent of the contract time - and about 100 days ahead of schedule, aided by unusually good construction weather.
The four-lane artery will link Mississippi Highway 6 near Pontotoc with U.S. 78 and Magnolia Way, which provides direct access to the Toyota assembly plant at Blue Springs. The project was bid at $87.5 million, and a $90 million state bond issue was approved in 2010 to fund the construction at an accelerated rate.
Transportation Commissioner Mike Tagert said in an interview this week the design-and-build method allows work to flow smoothly in a continuous cycle, not waiting for the completion of separate phases before the next stage of work starts.
Tagert said the pace of Highway 9 work is an endorsement of the design-and-build method, which he hopes can be used on additional projects.
Jamieson said Eutaw, headquartered in Aberdeen, is under an incentive contract that will pay them $50,000 per day in extra compensation for each day completion is ahead of schedule, up to 100 days and $5 million.
Progress on the new route is apparent to motorists on existing Highway 9 and the county roads crossing construction zones.
Jamieson also said inclement winter weather could slow the pace of work, but he does not expect it to delay an earlier-than-expected finish."

Get your construction roadgeeking in while you can!

[rel4]

MDOT has installed new guide signs across the Jackson area. A glaring mistake: The signs for exits to US 51/State Street off I-55 and I-20 have omitted the US 51 shield...and there still aren't any US 51 shields on I-55 from Pearl/Pascagoula Streets to County Line Road, on Pascagoula and Pearl Streets and on State Street from US 80 to Pearl/Pascagoula streets. 

I've asked MDOT about that in the past.  MDOT's position is that US 51 no longer goes through downtown Jackson because they gave maintenance of the street back to the city in 1974.  The only mistakes are that (1) MDOT never requested that US 51 be officially relocated to I-55 and (2) it only took 37 years to take the US 51 signs off of the State Street exit.

[brownpelican]

So 51 now follows I-55 through Jackson to the County Line Road exit?