One-hundred bridges in Lowndes, Oktibbeha, Clay and Noxubee counties need replacement, according to a Mississippi Economic Council’s task force report on transportation infrastructure.
An additional $375 million annually will be needed to complete those replacements, as well as additional bridge and road needs throughout the state, according to the December report from MEC.
The report states there are 424 deficient bridges in Mississippi. Of those, 138 can no longer able to carry the weight and traffic they were designed to carry. One of those, according to the report, is on Highway 14 in Noxubee county.
The report determined that $300 million, or 80 percent, of the new revenue should be dedicated to state-owned bridge and road needs; there are 225 state-maintained bridges in the four local counties, according to Jason Scott, a public information officer with the Mississippi Department of Transportation. The rest will be split between counties and municipalities, with both receiving $37.5 million.
The MEC task force has announced the formation of “Excelerate Mississippi,” a program designed to support the initiatives outlined in the report.
The replacements are needed to supplement the investments made in the state’s transportation system as a result of the 1987 AHEAD program, said Joe F. Sanderson, chairman and CEO of Sanderson Farms, and chair of the Blueprint Task Force.
“Roads across our state are beginning to crumble. Bridges aren’t safe,” he said in a December press release noting the reports findings.
The value of implementing the task force recommendation of $375 million annually would not only address safety issues in regards to the deteriorating roads and bridges, but provide a return on investment, said Blake Wilson, MEC President and CEO.
“As the improvements are made over time, this investment would produce a return of $1.45 a day in reduced drive-time, maintenance and wear and tear, according to economic models,” he said, noting it in comparison to the 37 cents a day, per registered vehicle, the increase would cost taxpayers.
Online
Area bridges in need of replacement
Lowndes Co. state bridges
■ U.S. 82 on U.S. Highway 45
■ U.S. 82 on U.S. Highway 45
■ Oak Slush Creek on U.S. Highway 45/ US Highway 82
■ Relief Stream on U.S. Highway 45/ U.S. Highway 82
■ Tombigbee River Relief on U.S. Highway 45/U.S. Highway 82
■ Moores Creek on Highway 69
■ U.S. 45/U.S. 82 on Highway 69
■ Vernon Branch on Highway 182
■ U.S. 45/U.S. 82 on Highway 69
■ Moores Creek on Highway 69
■ Mayo Creek on Highway 82 Frontage Road
■ McCrary Creek on Highway 69
■ Relief on Highway 182
Lowndes Co. local bridges
■ Motley Creek on Ranson Road
■ Luxapalila Creek on Waterworks Road
■ McCrory Creek on Armstrong Road
■ Oak Slush Creek on Old West Point Road
■ Ellis Creek on Nashville Ferry Road
■ Ellis Creek on Nashville Ferry Road
■ Sand Creek on Canal Road
Oktibbeha Co. state bridges
■ Trim Cane Creek on Highway 182
■ Josey Creek on Highway 182
■ Boughenia Creek on Highway 12
■ Cypress Creek on Highway 12
■ Big Creek Relief on Highway 12
■ Highway 182 on Highway 12
■ Big Creek on Highway 12
■ Old Highway 12 on Highway 12
■ Lee Boulevard on Highway 12
■ Lee Boulevard on Highway 12
■ Highway 182 on Highway 12
■ Sand Creek Tributary on Highway 182
■ Trim Cane Relief on Highway 390
■ Trim Cane Creek on Highway 389
Oktibbeha Co. local bridges
■ Sand Creek on Craig Springs Road
■ Golden Horn Creek on Sherman Drive
■ Cypress Creek on Silver Ridge Road
■ Noxubee River Relief on Morgan Town Road
■ Noxubee River Relief on Morgan Town Road
■ Noxubee River on Morgan Town Road
■ Noxubee River Relief on Morgan Town Road
■ Skinner Creek on Mount Olive Road
■ BCH of Browning Creek on Moor High Road
■ BCH of Big Creek on McHann Road
■ BCH of Big Creek on McHann Road
■ Big Creek on Sturgis-West Point Road
■ Cypress Creek on Sturgis-West Point Road
■ Trim Cane Creek on Longview Adaptation Road
■ Hollis Creek on Barnett Drive
■ Hollis Creek on School Drive
■ BCH of Tobacco Creek on Longview Road
■ Sand Creek on Crawford Road
■ Catalpa Creek on Harris Road
■ Red Bug Creek on Crawford Road
■ Biba Wila Creek on Harrell Road
■ Tributary to Trim Cane Creek on Self Creek Road
■ Trim Cane Creek on Reed Road
■ Tributary to Lick Creek Longview Adaptation
■ Sand Creek on Old West Point Road
■ Ash Creek on Osborn Road
■ Long Branch Creek on County Lake Road
■ BCH of Sun Creek on Sun Creek Road
■ Sun Creek on Route 250
Clay Co. state bridges
■ Chuquatonchee Relief on Highway 50
■ Chuquatonchee Creek on Highway 50
■ Bluff Creek on Highway 50
Clay Co. local bridges
■ Cane Creek on Ran Vail Road
■ Prairie Creek on John Brand Road
■ Cane Creek on Houston Starkville
■ Caridine Creek on Caridine Road
■ Moseley Creek on Hugh Moseley Road
■ Houlka Branch on Siloam Una Road
■ Chuquatonchee Creek on Bill Dexter Road
■ Reed Creek on Deans Road
■ Deans Creek on Deans Road
■ TVA Creek on TVA Station Road
■ Town Creek on Barton Ferry Road
■ Stream on Old Highway 46
■ Branch of Line Creek on Joe Myers Road
■ Long Creek on Moon Valley Road
■ Station Creek on TVA Station Road
Noxubee Co. state bridges
■ Hashuqua Creek on Highway 14
■ Noxubee River on Highway 14/Highway 145
■ Horse Hunters Creek on Highway 145
Noxubee Co. local bridges
■ Creek on Old Factory Road
■ Creek on Conner Road
■ Creek on Butler-Shuqualak
■ Hashagua Creek Relief on Butler Road
■ Branch on Concord Road
■ Midsouth RR on Perkins Road
■ Woodard Creek on Jack Spann Road
■ Woodard Creek Relief on Jack Spann Road
■ Woodard Creek Relief on Jack Spann Road
■ Plum Creek on Buggs Ferry Road
■ Noxubee River on Alexander Road
■ Lynn Creek on Singleton Road
■ West Water Creek on Lynn Creek Road
■ Noxubee River on Lynn Creek
■ West Water Creek on Tom Kinard Road
■ Creek on Fox Chase Road
Sam Luvisi is news editor and covers education for The Dispatch.
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