CHRISTINA HUFF | The Daily Mississippian
Workers at work on the intersection of Highway 6 and Taylor Road on March 16.
Officials approved the construction renovation of Old Taylor Road last month after the Mississippi Department of Transportation awarded $6 million to Talbot Brothers Contracting Company. Talbot Brothers Contracting Company agreed to complete the construction renovations in 18 months.
“There are many projects going on,” said Mitch Turner, District 2 engineer for MDOT. “The work you see them doing right now is taking place to expand and modify pipes, constructing a detour, expanding the bridge and adding two roundabouts.”
The bridgework taking place right now is tile driving and working to widen the Old Taylor bridge. The original bridge will stand, but it will be expanded to four lanes rather than two. The bridge plans also include adding a protected pedestrian and bike path that will run across the entire bridge. In addition, new on-off ramps will be added for access to Highway 6.
Old Taylor Road resident Justin Boyd believes that the Old Taylor construction is beneficial.
“I think it’s great that they are expanding to account for a high traffic area, especially with the construction of the new hospital,” Boyd said. “It’s good to see they are keeping bikers and pedestrians in mind as well.”
Roundabouts at the north and south ends of Old Taylor Road are also expected to be parts of the new construction. The roundabouts will include two dual-lane paths that will be larger than the pre-existing roundabout at the edge of campus, according to Turner.
According to Jason Scott, the public information officer in MDOT’s Public Affairs Division, the construction is proceeding as planned.
“Everything is on schedule,” Scott said. “We are hoping for early November for final completion.”
In order to build a detour around the construction on Old Taylor, a road will be constructed through the old Whirlpool plant site. The university owns this land and has given permission for construction on a detour to begin.
The objective of the detour is to connect Old Taylor Road with Coliseum Drive, which will allow people who live on the south end of Old Taylor to enter campus when the bridge closes for construction after the spring semester.
Scott said MDOT plans to work six days a week throughout the summer months, pending night and weekend construction approval from the Board of Aldermen.
According to Turner, the bridge will be closed during the summer semester and will reopen shortly before the fall semester begins.
MDOT also plans to eventually expand all of Old Taylor Road into four lanes while adding a new streetlight system in an attempt to reduce traffic and the number of accidents.
