JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Leaders with the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) announced crews have made significant progress on infrastructure improvement projects on U.S. 80 in the Jackson-metro.

“I am pleased to announce the early completion of the major U.S. 80 bridge rehabilitation project over the Pearl River. Finishing this project early has allowed our crews to immediately begin work on the second U.S. 80 bridge repair just east of the Pearl River,” said Mississippi Transportation Commission Chairman Willie Simmons. “While the route remains closed to traffic, this will help the timeline for the second repair project.”

The second project, which began on August 6, is over the Pearl River relief area and allows a closure period of up to 100 calendar days. The first project over the Pearl River called for 270 working days. According to MDOT, crews finished the significant bridge rehab project in 245 days.

“While the second U.S. 80 bridge repair will not last as long as the first, the work is just as crucial. Both projects are necessary to ensure these bridges will be able to handle the additional traffic they will experience when we begin other major projects in the metro in the coming years,” said Simmons. “This is what progress looks like. It is vital to central Mississippi traffic that we strengthen our aging infrastructure network, making it safer—and stronger—for many, many years.”

The U.S. 80 project that began on August 6 will include the removal and replacement of portions of the end bent and bridge end pavement. MDOT officials said the additional rehabilitation work includes placing a hybrid polymer concrete overlay on the bridge deck, sealing the new bridge joints and cleaning all bridge caps. The $2.1 million project was awarded to Key, LLC of Madison. The U.S. 80 work is expected to wrap up and reopen to traffic this fall.