Highway 51 project now underway

An $8.2 million improvement project on nine miles of Highway 51 north of Madison began earlier this month.

The project runs along Highway 51 for nine miles from the Madison city limits to Dinkins Street in Canton. 

Central District Highway Commissioner Willie Simmons, chairman of the Mississippi Transportation Commission, announced on Friday, May 30, that construction signs had been placed for the project to begin.

The project includes failed area repair, upgrades to any deficient guardrail, replacement of deficient traffic signage, traffic signal detection upgrades, and tree clearing. The project also includes milling and overlay.

The estimated completion date for the project is spring 2026.

The $8.2 million project was awarded to Richland-based APAC-MS. 

Simmons announced the project along with an update on 17 ongoing projects statewide.

“With construction season well underway across central Mississippi, we understand this amount of work is impacting travel conditions for many. However, these projects are preserving and extending the life of our transportation infrastructure,” Simmons said. “More importantly, these projects will make travel conditions safer long term. Please be patient, slow down, and stay alert so our crews can safely complete these projects as quickly and efficiently as possible.”  

This update covers projects in MDOT's District 5, which spans Hinds, Kemper, Lauderdale, Leake, Madison, Neshoba, Newton, Noxubee, Rankin, and Scott Counties.