The U.S. Department of Transportation is allocating $6.6 million to the Mississippi Department of Transportation replace eight bridges in Southwest Mississippi, including in Marion County.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao announced the grants Aug. 29 during remarks at the Coastal Region Transportation Summit in Biloxi.
The $6.66 million for work on eight bridges in Lincoln, Marion, Jeff Davis and Walthall counties is included in $16.8 million provided overall to Mississippi through the Competitive Highway Bridge Program, according to a news release.
The funding will cover the Williamsburg Road bridge replacement in Marion County. Bids have been received, and Beacon Construction will do the work, which is expected to start within 30 days.
County officials had already signed a memorandum of understanding in June with MDOT regarding the funding. The project dates back several years: At one point the $1.6 million project was going to be paid with federal funds, but the state diverted those funds to do bridge inspections when the statewide bridge crisis began. Then the two bridges on the road were ordered closed in April 2018 during the statewide crackdown of bridges with deteriorating wooden piles underneath. A bypass created by county crews on the south bridge opened in September 2018. Replacing the bridges was approved in January as part of $250 million in emergency road and bridge projects by the Legislature during a special session, but receiving the money was delayed because MDOT had also applied for federal funds for the project.
Members of Mississippi’s congressional delegation, including U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith and U.S. Reps. Steven Palazzo and Michael Guest, applauded the increased funding in a statement.
The U.S. DOT also announced a $4.3 million Restoration and Enhancement grant for the Southern Rail Commission to support the return of passenger rail service from New Orleans to Mobile, Ala.
