Mississippi approved more than $1.2 billion in projects to begin construction in fiscal year 2024, breaking the previous record set in 2022 by more than $255 million.
This year’s approved amount is an 89 percent increase over the previous five years’ average.
During the 2024 session, the Mississippi Legislature increased the Mississippi Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) appropriation by $627 million and allocated $100 million to the Emergency Road and Bridge Repair Fund. This is in addition to the $80 million MDOT receives from the Mississippi Lottery annually.
“When these funds are invested in transportation, MDOT can accomplish more and better fulfill its mission of providing safe and efficient infrastructure for all who travel in Mississippi,” Willie Simmons, Mississippi Transportation Commission chairman, said. “We are grateful to Congress, the Federal Highway Administration, the Mississippi Legislature and Gov. Tate Reeves for making these projects possible.”
The projects will make safety improvements, resurface roadways, replace and repair bridges, and other updates statewide.
The federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provided Mississippi with more than $1 billion in additional Federal Highway Administration funding over five years. This increase, along with U.S. Department of Transportation grants, was responsible for the previous approved project record in 2022.