Wet weather and high water in the region has slowed work on multiple bridge projects in Tallahatchie County along State Route 32 between State Route 35 and the Tallahatchie River, said Mike Tagert, Northern District transportation commissioner.
The first project near Charleston will replace six bridges and move traffic to a new alignment on State Route 32. The project began in February 2018.
The eastern phase of the project is complete and open to traffic. Three new bridges and four box culverts were installed.
The western phase of the project is currently under construction. The bridge and culvert work is expected to be completed in summer 2019.
When construction is completed, a new surface course of asphalt will be laid throughout the project area.
A second project on State Route 32 replaced three bridges and constructed a new railroad bridge. The project was completed in November, except for erosion control and final cleanup work. This work is expected to be performed during the summer of 2019.
“The bridges on State Route 32 in these projects have been repaired multiple times and are posted at 15 tons or less,” Tagert said. “These are steel beam bridges with timber pilings that were built in the late 1940s and have outlived their serviceable lives.”
In the future, a third project to replace the Tallahatchie River Bridge will be advertised for bids.
Elsewhere in the county on U.S. Highway 49 East, a nearly $5 million project to replace the Black Bayou Bridge is being performed by Eutaw Construction. A temporary detour bridge has been opened for traffic. The existing bridge is being demolished, and the crews began driving pilings for the permanent bridge in late June. The project is scheduled to be completed in fall 2019.
“Most of the work is taking place off the existing roadway to minimize impacts to traffic and to keep workers safe,” Tagert said. “However, motorists should use caution in the work zones and expect delays. Construction equipment and dump trucks will be entering and exiting the work zones throughout the project.”
IN THE PHOTO: A motorist crosses the temporary detour bridge over Black Bayou on U.S. Highway 49 East while a new Black Bayou Bridge goes up at left. (MDOT photo)
