Carroll County was awarded up to $5.7 million for three bridge projects thanks to emergency road and bridge funds from the state.
In total, 163 projects around the state were awarded funds equaling $250 million. The money is from bond legislation based on projected future lottery revenue. The Mississippi Transportation Commission, made up of 10 members appointed by Governor Phil Bryant, set the criteria for projects being approved for funding and announced which projects would be funded this week.
In Carroll County, projects included bridge replacement and other work on County Road 69 in Beat 1, County Road 87 in Beat 5; and County Road 215 in Beat 2.
According to Beat 1 Supervisor Jim Neill, Willis Engineering, the county’s engineering firm, designed and set cost estimations on the three projects, and bids should be let by summer 2019. Projects awarded must be completed within three years, Neill said.
The County Road 69 project includes replacing a bridge and approaches on the road that lies west of the Jefferson Community and acts as a thoroughfare between County Road 100 and Highway 35. The cost of the project is $854,203.50.
“The detour right now is about eight miles,” Neill said. “It is a main avenue from County Road 100 to Highway 35.”
In Beat 5, a project centered on County Road 87, which is south of Highway 35 and the Town of Vaiden, will include replacing three bridges at a cost of $3,793,775.
Beat 5 Supervisor Rickie Corley said County Road 87 is a heavily-traveled road, and currently the bridges are open but in poor condition.
The project includes replacing one bridge with a boxed culvert and the other two with newly-constructed bridges. The project could also include upgrading three-quarters of a mile of the paved road, which includes building the road up and increasing the slope in an effort to improve safety of motorists.
“It will be a tremendous assets to the community and folks traveling out that way,” said Corley. “It goes into Holmes County. It will be a tremendous asset for us.”
In Beat 2, the project involving County Road 215 was funded in the amount of $1,045,025 to replace a bridge and the approaches. County Road 215 is located five miles north of North Carrollton and east of Highway 35 near the Four Forks area. The current bridge is currently closed.
