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MDOT continues spring tornado recovery
JACKSON, MS – The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) is investing over $1 million in cleanup efforts throughout south Mississippi, after strong storms left a path of destruction throughout multiple counties in April.
Multiple strong tornadoes, including a historic EF4 tornado, touched down Easter weekend damaging homes, businesses and other structures across multiple counties while bringing down countless trees. MDOT first responders worked to clear the roadways as quickly as possible to ensure traffic could resume as normal to allow emergency crews and residents to travel as needed.
“MDOT first responders jumped into action as soon as the storms passed to ensure the roads were open for emergency travel,” said Commissioner Tom King, Southern Transportation District. “Removal of this debris helps residents continue their recovery efforts.”
The contracts ratified at the last Mississippi Transportation Commission (MTC) meeting on June 9 for debris clean up in the Southern Transportation District were:
- A $478,260 contract was awarded to Holiday Construction, LLC, of Poplarville to remove and dispose of debris on various routes throughout Jones County.
- A $286,437 contract was awarded to Looks Great Services of MS, Inc., of Columbia to remove and dispose of debris on various routes throughout Covington and Jefferson Davis counties.
- A $309,526 contract was awarded to T.L. Wallace Construction, Inc., of Columbia to make flood damage repairs to the Pearl River Basin in Lawrence and Marion counties.
Additional emergency contracts have been let for debris removal:
- Debris removal project estimated at $499,000 in Jasper and Clarke counties.
- Debris removal project estimated at $50,500 in Lawrence and Walthall counties.
In an active storm season debris removal adds to MDOT’s maintenance responsibilities. Resources are reallocated to cover storm response, decreasing the resources that could otherwise go to maintaining Mississippi’s transportation infrastructure. With an active hurricane season forecasted, MDOT is monitoring the tropics while it continues to clean up from spring severe weather.
“MDOT needs funding to be able to respond to disasters while at the same time continuing to keep Mississippi’s highways open and safe for motorists,” said King. “Transportation funding is also vital to keeping Mississippi businesses functioning and our economy growing.”
Highway work zones present new traffic patterns and configurations that may be unfamiliar to some motorists. For information about how to navigate highway work zones safely, visit GoMDOT.com/drivesmartms.
For more information about these or other MDOT maintenance and construction projects, visit MDOTtraffic.com, download the free MDOT Traffic mobile app or like and follow @MississippiDOT on Facebook and Twitter.
CUTLINE: MDOT is investing over $1 million in cleanup efforts throughout south Mississippi, after strong storms left a path of destruction throughout multiple counties in April.
