The Mississippi Department of Transportation said community leaders, project partners and elected officials gathered to mark the groundbreaking of a pedestrian and biking bridge on Lakeland Drive in Jackson.
MDOT said the project is intended to safely connect the LeFleur Museum District, which the agency described as award-winning, and to expand opportunities for walking, biking, recreation and tourism in the area.
The agency said federal funding was secured with support from Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and that the Mississippi Legislature provided state appropriations for the project.
MDOT said the bridge will cross Lakeland Drive next to the North Jackson Youth Baseball parking lot on the south side and will land in the center of Jamie Fowler Boyll Park on the north side.
When completed, MDOT said the bridge will provide an ADA-accessible route for pedestrians and cyclists, remove a longstanding barrier created by Lakeland Drive and make it easier for visitors and residents to explore the museums, parks and outdoor attractions in the district.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
