Old West Point Road bridge to be replaced
Last week, the bridge on Old West Point Road was taken down to prepare for a full replacement.
Back in mid-july, the portion of the road was indefinitely closed for Phillips Contracting to begin work on removing and replacing the bridge, but due to delays, demolition of the bridge occurred last Tuesday instead of the scheduled July 13.
According to a Facebook post by the city’s official page, this bridge replacement project is funded through the Emergency Road and Bridge Repair Fund, which was enacted through a special session of the Mississippi Legislature.
“This project will provide a safer intersection at Garrard Road, improve drainage efficiency of the creek, as well as provide adequate stabilization of the channel slopes,” the post read.
This road closure will extend from the south side of Garrard Road to Trotter Lane with no through-traffic being allowed or possible.
The city is requiring motorists to use alternate routes such as Montgomery Street, Garrard Road, and Highway 12 while this project goes on.
This part of town lies in the realm of responsibility for Ward 5 Alderman Hamp Beatty, and he posted on Facebook that the bridge was in dire need of a replacement for the benefit of citizens’ wellbeing and the city’s infrastructure.
“The repair of the bridge Old West Point Road is part of the city’s ongoing effort to improve our infrastructure,” Beatty wrote. “This bridge is old and past its usable life. The City of Starkville is committed to the safety and wellbeing of its citizens. We are sorry for the temporary inconvenience.”
The completion of this project should take about six months. Before the delays took place, the anticipated completion date was estimated to be on or before January 1, 2022.
For more information about this bridge replacement project, you can contact the project manager for Phillips Contracting, Tyler Shepherd through his office phone at 662-328-6250, or you can contact the City of Starkville’s Engineering Department at 662323-2525.