JACKSON — According to Mississippi Southern District Transportation Commissioner Wayne Brown, the Mississippi Department of Transportation announced Tuesday that $620,000 in additional funding from the Federal Highway Administration will be awarded to the Okhissa Lake Project in Franklin County.

As progress continues at Okhissa Lake, the Federal Highway Administration in partnership with MDOT has designed seven miles of roadway on this project. The additional funding will be utilized to provide for better access to the lake’s facilities in Franklin County. Phase I of the project has been completed and includes access roads for the lake, entrance turn lanes from Mississippi 98 and road construction to the primary day use zone. As part of Phase II, road construction will be completed to the west of the Okhissa Dam.

“The Okhissa Lake Project is going to be a wonderful economic boost to Southwest, Mississippi,” Brown said. “MDOT is delighted to be involved in a project that Sen. Thad Cochran and so many others have worked on meticulously to bring to reality.”

MDOT’s role in this project is to request funding from the Federal Highway Administration for project development and accept the completed improvements to Mississippi 98 for maintenance after completion.

The 1,000-acre lake and recreation area will provide water, land and nature-based activities for the public. The lake will have 39 miles of shoreline, all on National Forest lands, which will include hiking trails, fishing piers and swimming areas with beaches.