MDOT issues update on state’s flooded roadways

ACROSS MISSISSIPPI — The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) has released its update on roadways impacted by the Mississippi River flood.

MDOT crews have been busy opening roads and preparing others for re-opening. MDOT reports it would continue to monitor floodwater levels on roadways that remain inundated to estimate when they may be re-opened. These estimates will be revisited on a regular basis and revised as needed.

These dates are merely estimates based on the most current information and should be used for planning purposes only.

The roadways, as of June 6, include:

• SR 16/SR 149 (Old Highway 49W) in Yazoo County from Whittington Auxiliary Channel to Erickson Road (two miles). The opening date is set for June 10 at 10 a.m. Floodwaters have receded from the roadway, but testing revealed that there are potential problems with the pavement. An additional drop in water levels is needed drain water from underneath the pavement to minimize these potential problems.

• SR 465 in Warren and Issaquena counties between U.S. 61 and Eagle Lake (10 miles). The estimated opening date is mid- to late-June 2011 Floodwaters are currently three feet over the road at the deepest point. Floodwaters will have to recede further before any work is done on this segment.

• U.S. 61 in Warren and Claiborne counties, south of Vicksburg at the Big Black River (4.5 miles). It re-opened June 3.

• U.S. 49W in Humphreys and Yazoo counties from the Whittington Channel south of Silver City to the Yazoo River (10 miles). It re-opened June 1.

• U.S. 61/SR 3 in Warren County, north of Vicksburg at the U.S. 61/SR 3 intersection near Redwood to the Backwater Levee (4.5 miles). It re-opened June 1.

• SR 16/SR 149 (Old Highway 49W) in Yazoo County from Erickson Road to the Yazoo River (seven miles). It re-opened June 1. This segment is open to local traffic only until the remaining segment near the Whittington Channel can re-opened at a later date.

• SR 24 in Wilkinson County near Fort Adams. It re-opened June 1.

Source: MDOT