MDOT to Assess Roads Repeatedly Damaged by Flooding and Disasters
The Mississippi Department of Transportation is set to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of roads repeatedly damaged by flooding and other natural disasters. The effort is part of the federal Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative Efficient and Cost Saving Transportation (PROTECT) program, funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
The Mississippi Transportation Commission approved a contract with Volkert Inc. of Starkville to perform the statewide assessment. The work will cost no more than $307,148. The evaluation aims to identify sections of roadway prone to damage and determine the costs of future preventative measures, according to Jim Willis, MDOT’s director of intermodal planning.
Willis said the evaluation aligns with federal requirements for regular assessments of transportation assets vulnerable to natural disasters. The effort also supports the development of a resilience plan that could reduce matching funds required under the IIJA, Willis added.
Additionally, the agency is preparing a report mandated by federal code to update the status of repeatedly damaged transportation assets. Willis explained that some areas of Mississippi, particularly along the Gulf Coast, are prone to flooding due to recent heavy rainfall. The assessment will help determine whether investing in protective measures is justified financially.
In other business, the commission discussed a proposed lawsuit to recover $950 for damage to a median cable barrier along Interstate 22 in Union County. The claim stems from damage to the barrier, with the legal action seeking to hold an insurance company accountable, according to legal division director Judy Martin. Commission members questioned whether pursuing such a minor claim was appropriate.
The commission also voted to remove from the agenda a request from the city of Vicksburg to terminate a lighting maintenance agreement for LED lights along Interstate 20. Concerns were raised about setting a precedent for cities to revert maintenance responsibilities back to MDOT, prompting the matter’s postponement for future discussion.
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