The Delta Council Highways and Transportation Committee met last week in Stoneville to hear from local leaders and discuss plans for anticipated federal infrastructure funding.
The group discussed a variety of regional and state highway ideas and heard of local hopes for highways in the Delta and across northern and central Mississippi.
Delta Council Chairman Walton Gresham opened the meeting with an I-69 update along with Mississippi legislative session issues, particularly those that could touch the Delta.
Northern District Transportation Commissioner John Caldwell gave a status report on Highway 6 and other Northern District priorities, followed by Central District Commissioner Willie Simmons who addressed Delta Freight and Blues Corridor that includes portions of Highway 61 in Clarkdale, the U.S. 82 Bypass around Greenville and other Central District priorities.
Highway commissioners, state and local leaders said an emphasis needs to be placed on building highways in the state and that if Mississippi does not capitalize on President Joe Biden’s proposed national infrastructure revitalization plan, highway construction would probably not happen in the Mississippi Delta for decades to come.
Local leaders have repeatedly urged national elected officials in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate to work together to get federal dollars to Mississippi, specifically for repairs of deteriorating highways and bridges and for new construction.
A surge of COVID-19 stimulus money has been given the state and lawmakers and the Mississippi Department of Transportation are studying ways to spend those funds.
