The widening of MS Highway 76 got a significant boost this week through the injection of $52.4 million from the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT).
The ongoing project will consist of 8.3 miles of road spread out into four lanes in Itawamba County. It is the last stretch of highway between two major industrial points that have yet to reach four lanes: the Toyota plant in Blue Springs, Mississippi and the joint Toyota-Mazda production facility in Huntsville, Ala. DOT funding will be pulled from the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) discretionary grant program.
“Completing this important segment of the Appalachian Development Highway System in Mississippi will facilitate economic growth for Northeast Mississippi, particularly the automotive and other manufacturing interests in the region,” U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), on said. “Finishing this highway in Itawamba County will also improve the safety and efficiency of the heavily trafficked corridor.”
Hyde-Smith was joined in support of the award by fellow U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) and U.S. Rep. Trent Kelly (R-MS).
Beyond the $52.4 million coming from the federal government, the project will also utilize $38.4 million from other federal and state program funds. It will be the final touch on the Appalachian Development Highway System.
“Good infrastructure is key to providing high paying jobs and a better quality of life for our citizens,” Kelly said. “Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi has been a great partner, and this highway improvement project will further enable Toyota and others to grow their productivity, providing more jobs for hardworking Mississippians.”