Mississippi

[froggie]

Does anyone here know why the I-59-MS 42 interchange is the way it is?

The footprint of the interchange is huge, and they demolished some buildings to make way for it. There's a third bay under the bridge for a southbound CD to serve the existing loop plus a future loop for southbound 59-to-eastbound 42 traffic. The advantage of this two-adjacent-loop layout is that it eliminates the need for a traffic signal on the west side of the interchange. However, they still built the ramps on that side to intersect perpendicularly with 42, which you'd do only if the intention was for traffic to turn left there. Indeed, there's a left turn pocket striped there now even though it's redundant.

If MS 42 was extended to the northwest, it could serve as an extension of the US 49 Hattiesburg bypass, but the extra ramps don't seem helpful for traffic headed along that route.

Also, while I mentioned the third bridge span to accommodate a future CD road, the existing loop ramp would have to be almost completely reconstructed to tie into the CD and pass through the span. See what I mean?

I'd appreciate any insight y'all cound provide.

Dating back at least to when I was stationed in Mississippi the FIRST time (so talking 25 years ago now), there were two considerations being made for extending a roadway west of that interchange.  One was as a new alignment freeway for an occasionally-proposed "Jackson-Gulf Coast Interstate", in order to avoid heavy development along the US 49/MS 42 concurrency.

The second consideration was to extend such a road as part of a beltway around the Hattiesburg area.  This is still being considered as part of the MPO's transportation plan.

I want to say I saw early schematics of an "ultimate configuration" of a cloverleaf for the I-69/MS 42 interchange...this would certainly explain why it's so wide on the west side and the frontage road was built farther out in the southeast corner.

------------------------

Speaking of the Hattiesburg area, I found this news piece from last fall that MDOT is considering converting the I-59/US 11 interchange at Exit 60 into a diverging diamond.

[kenarmy]

I had the understanding that US 51 has a (mostly) hidden concurrency with I-55 from County Line Road south to Crystal Springs.. However, MDOT labels the short four-lane spur from US 80 to Interstate 55 as US 51 and Wikipedia notes the State Street exit as "US 51 North." Can anyone explain this?
https://path.mdot.ms.gov/projmap

P.S. I see a 2025 map depicting the US 84-US 98 concurrency.

[The Ghostbuster]

There is information about the seemingly continued existence of a US 84/98 duplex in Western Mississippi at the Natchez page on usends.com: https://www.usends.com/natchez.html.

[froggie]

There is information about the seemingly continued existence of a US 84/98 duplex in Western Mississippi at the Natchez page on usends.com: https://www.usends.com/natchez.html.

There have been a number of posts about it on this forum over the years as well.  Here are a couple of my own posts:

https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=2400.msg54092#msg54092

https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=28690.msg2579522#msg2579522


Long story short, per MDOT (and I received an email years ago from them on this), 98 ends at 84 in Bude.  Though it appears they never sent AASHTO a truncation request.

As for US 51 through or around Jackson, it was relocated onto I-55 a number of decades back, but since the spur into downtown from the south remained on the state highway system, it somehow kept US 51 shields.

[Great Lakes Roads]

MDOT remembers Hurricane Katrina, 20 years later. This video talks mainly about the rebuild of US 90 along the Gulf.

[TBKS1]

New state highway just opened a few days ago, MS 477 or West Rankin Parkway.

Confirmed by @rlee on the travel mapping forum

(original post)

News article from WLBT (link)

[Plutonic Panda]

Another article summarizing all the projects happening around the state of Mississippi:

https://mdot.ms.gov/portal/news_release_view/2569

[ElishaGOtis]

75 bill is back https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history/HB/HB0436.xml

[MoiraPrime]

They're currently working on a project on US 49 to widen it to 6 lanes between Oneal Road and School road in Harrison county. They're also working on making the intersection of US 49 and MS 53 a continuous flow intersection.

Walmart is also planning to build a brand new supercenter on the northeast corner of that US 49/MS 53 intersection.

Honestly the CFI and Supercenter being right next to each other seems like a recipe for disaster. Seemed fine at first because that intersection is rather in a sparse area, but with a new Walmart being built there it's going to quickly develop into some of the most unwalkable retail space.

[bwana39]

They're currently working on a project on US 49 to widen it to 6 lanes between Oneal Road and School road in Harrison county. They're also working on making the intersection of US 49 and MS 53 a continuous flow intersection.

Walmart is also planning to build a brand new supercenter on the northeast corner of that US 49/MS 53 intersection.

Honestly the CFI and Supercenter being right next to each other seems like a recipe for disaster. Seemed fine at first because that intersection is rather in a sparse area, but with a new Walmart being built there it's going to quickly develop into some of the most unwalkable retail space.

OK Who walks between WalMart and anywhere?

[74/171FAN]

OK Who walks between WalMart and anywhere?

I am pretty sure I did walk across Dimmock Pkwy with my dad in Colonial Heights, VA, to go to Wal-Mart before while car work was being done at the nearby Sam's Club around the corner.

[ElishaGOtis]

75 bill is back https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history/HB/HB0436.xml

You are ded, not big surprise.

[HemiCRZ]

MDOT just posted a news release stating that they have held a meeting regarding the future of I-69 in the state.

Seems like a nothing-starter, with the current estimated price tag around $1.5 billion for the remainder of Mississippi's segment, not including the new bridge over the Mississippi River.

However, the article does say that MDOT executive leadership has reopened the door on the project and is re-evaluating the cost estimates for the next segment, which would extend from the current end of the I-69 concurrency on SR 713 and run a little further south to SR 4 south of Tunica. It seems that there are some new funding sources for multi-state interstate construction MDOT is eyeing at obtaining, but notes they will need approval from the Mississippi Legislature as the state will be on the hook for about 20%.

Read the whole thing here: https://mdot.ms.gov/portal/news_release_view/2668?fbclid=IwdGRleAQw6txmZGlkFlA5P03yx2aNjADL8eSq1L1imyLDWU1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeZ9H_phc5oN3BW7SLcH_OZ1IRq2w6BvYFbVoxZEXRhR9TbZ_rGcicO9Tbesw_aem_HtK4iDguvWVg012EF9vB_

[The Ghostbuster]

I was under the impression that what exists now of Interstate 69 in Mississippi, is all that will ever exist of 69 in Mississippi.

[HemiCRZ]

I was under the impression that what exists now of Interstate 69 in Mississippi, is all that will ever exist of 69 in Mississippi.

This is probably accurate, but I suppose we shall see. I'm guessing the extension they mention would just follow SR 713 to US 61, then follow 61 south to SR 4 south of Tunica. This could probably be upgraded for a marginal amount.

If they do this extension, it'll probably be another 30 years before another extension is built. 

[RoadMaster09]

MDOT just posted a news release stating that they have held a meeting regarding the future of I-69 in the state.

Seems like a nothing-starter, with the current estimated price tag around $1.5 billion for the remainder of Mississippi's segment, not including the new bridge over the Mississippi River.

However, the article does say that MDOT executive leadership has reopened the door on the project and is re-evaluating the cost estimates for the next segment, which would extend from the current end of the I-69 concurrency on SR 713 and run a little further south to SR 4 south of Tunica. It seems that there are some new funding sources for multi-state interstate construction MDOT is eyeing at obtaining, but notes they will need approval from the Mississippi Legislature as the state will be on the hook for about 20%.

Read the whole thing here: https://mdot.ms.gov/portal/news_release_view/2668?fbclid=IwdGRleAQw6txmZGlkFlA5P03yx2aNjADL8eSq1L1imyLDWU1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeZ9H_phc5oN3BW7SLcH_OZ1IRq2w6BvYFbVoxZEXRhR9TbZ_rGcicO9Tbesw_aem_HtK4iDguvWVg012EF9vB_

It's a good place to start. Additionally, there are several options around Tunica that exist and might need looking at.

$1.5 billion for 120 miles might actually be a generous estimate given the fact there are (1) no major river crossings, (2) low land acquisition costs, (3) no new large systems interchanges, and (4) fairly flat terrain. It is probably closer to $10 million per mile (I would estimate about $1.2 billion).

It is 116 miles from Leland to the current end of I-69, if they decided to do away with the proposed bridge (which would cost more than twice what the entire corridor would cost) and redirect to Greenville, although Arkansas would have to get involved there.

[Anthony_JK]

If they do decide to redirect I-69 south to Greenville and nix the bridge, then they need to reconsider the entire routing of I-69 through Arkansas. The better alternative would be: 

US 61 south to US 82 and the Leland/Greenville bridge;
US 82 west to the proposed Monticello bypass:
An extended AR/I-530 along US 425/US 165 to Monroe;
Run coincident with I-20 to Haughton;
SIU #15 from Haughton SW through Port of Shreveport-Bossier using proposed ""I-69 Frontage Road" to Stonewall.

Personally, I still think that if they do decide to junk I-69 through Arkansas, they should just end the southern portion of I-69 in Texarkana, truncate the northern extension of I-69 at Memphis or Dyersburg via I-155, make the Tunica extension part of the Southern Gateway Loop extension of I-269 as a bypass of Memphis; and just extend AR/I-530 to Monroe, with a possible extension to Alexandria or even Lake Charles. 

[Plutonic Panda]

Some good expansion projects set to begin soon on I-55 and SR-25:

https://mdot.ms.gov/portal/news_release_view/2720

[bwana39]

If they do decide to redirect I-69 south to Greenville and nix the bridge, then they need to reconsider the entire routing of I-69 through Arkansas. The better alternative would be:

US 61 south to US 82 and the Leland/Greenville bridge;
US 82 west to the proposed Monticello bypass: US-82 does not go to Monticello Hamburg would be the US-82 US-425 / I-530 (or eventually I-57) meeting place.
An extended AR/I-530 along US 425/US 165 to Monroe; While I agree this is probably the only way to get a freeway in Louisiana. A true north / south route that actually has something to do with hurricane evacuation
Run coincident with I-20 to Haughton; If it runs to Monroe, I agree.
SIU #15 from Haughton SW through Port of Shreveport-Bossier using proposed ""I-69 Frontage Road" to Stonewall.

Personally, I still think that if they do decide to junk I-69 through Arkansas, they should just end the southern portion of I-69 in Texarkana, truncate the northern extension of I-69 at Memphis or Dyersburg via I-155, make the Tunica extension part of the Southern Gateway Loop extension of I-269 as a bypass of Memphis; and just extend AR/I-530 to Monroe, with a possible extension to Alexandria or even Lake Charles.

They will eventually build I-69 to I-49 south of Shreveport. The gap will more likely be from Shreveport or Haughton to Memphis. We read over and over about the capacity issues on I-30 / I-40 in Arkansas. A completed I-69 would mitigate that significantly