Archived Story

Final work begins on flyover

Published 12:02am Sunday, November 4, 2012

NATCHEZ — Work is being done on the final section of the flyover, and the Mississippi Department of Transportation anticipates having traffic traveling on permanent routes by March 2013.

The flyover will not be completely finished by then, MDOT District Engineer Albert White said, but all that will be left will be finishing touches.

The project was delayed because part of the concrete did not set properly, and scaffolding fell on part of the bridge deck.

Construction crews picked up night shifts to catch up on work, but White said crews are now working only during the day.

“But they’ve stepped it up, they have several crews out there during the daytime,” he said.

Work is being done on the south end of the bridge, and it should be paved in the next few weeks, White said. Crews are also continuing to work on the retaining walls on the north end of the project.

A traffic swap will occur sometime in the next month to allow crews to finish the middle section of the bridge, which is the last section to be completed.

One of the major objectives of the $19.7 million flyover, Smith said, is to direct 18-wheeler truck traffic over the intersection instead of truck drivers making a left turn at it. He said the flyover should shorten delay times at the intersection.

  • Anonymous

    Let the driving games begin!

  • Anonymous

    For an area that has been losing population for years, I just don’t get this…… This might end up being Natchez’s version of “Malfunction Junction”! lol! It has taken forever to build this! MDOT would not make it in TEXAS where overpasses and flyovers are built in months, not years!

  • Anonymous

    Man, I agree, getalifenatchez. WHY has it taken SOOooo long for this to be built here in MS, when they throw these babies together in no time in other states??!! Hmmmmm. I guess we just don’t have the same cutting edge technolgy they do, like concrete, re-bar, scalfolding, dozers, backhoes, water, etc etc etc..

  • Anonymous

    Oh WAIT !!!! I bet it a “SPECIAL” type or bridge, built to compliment Natchez’ architecture, that is one of “Brown’s Legacy” projects. Ha!- Asked and answered.

  • Anonymous

    I can’t wait to see the landscaping that will be neglected in the future.

  • Anonymous

    I’ve heard that because the contractor is a minority that he doesn’t have the same rules when it comes to completion dates or being the lowest bidder.

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