First Mississippi phases of I-69 underway Decisions remain on
some routing issues

By MARK BIRD
DBJ Contributing Writer

Its completion may still be many years away, but the project to build Interstate 69 from Canada to Mexico is slowly moving ahead.

Work on the planned Mississippi segments of the new highway is actually ahead of other states in some respects, bolstered by several recent developments. The expansion of Highway 304 in Desoto County—which connects Interstate 55 with Highway 61—is well underway; this road will ultimately be a part of Interstate 69, as will the recently completed Highway 61 bypass around Clarksdale.

Perhaps most significantly, the planned Great River Bridge near Benoit was designated this summer as the official Interstate 69 Mississippi River crossing. With this record of decision accomplished, design and engineering of the bridge and right-of-way acquisition can begin in earnest.

The exact alignment of the Mississippi segments of I-69 has yet to be determined, and probably the most uncertainty at this point relates to the section from Robinsonville to the bridge crossing at Benoit. Three alternatives are currently proposed, reports Scott Luth, executive director of the Cleveland-Bolivar County Chamber of Commerce.

“The first, the eastern alternative, passes generally through Coahoma and Sunflower counties, east of Cleveland,” he explains. “It crosses Highway 8 on the outskirts of Cleveland, then crosses Highway 61 as it heads west to Benoit.

“The second, central alternative basically follows the existing route of Highway 61 to Merigold, then turns southwest and crosses Highway 8 about three miles outside Cleveland.

“The third alternative is a western route that stays west of Highway 61 from the Clarksdale bypass,” he continues. “It passes through open, rural land to just north of Highway 8. From that point, it follows the same route as the central alternative.”

The central route, along the existing Highway 61, is favored by Bolivar County officials, Luth says. “The eastern route pulls the interstate away from Bolivar County municipalities and into rural land which is not really close to any of the Delta towns along Highway 61. And there’s essentially the same problem with the western alternative.”

The final choice of a route will significantly affect development opportunity in area communities, observes Bob Eley, executive director of the Cleveland-Bolivar County Industrial Development Foundation. “If an interstate highway is not located in close proximity to municipalities and existing infrastructure, it creates very little potential for industrial and economic development,” he comments. “There have been studies that confirm this, including some done by the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT). We believe then that the central route offers the most potential for not only our Bolivar County towns, but all the Highway 61 communities.”

Lucy Janoush of Baxter Healthcare is also on the board of directors of the I-69 Mid-Continent Highway Coalition, Inc., a group that represents the interests of the states through which I-69 will pass. She points to another advantage of the central route alternative.

“It would be easier, and probably cheaper, to construct,” she says, “because it would utilize a lot of the existing Highway 61. And the area around 61 is already developed, so there would be less environmental issues to deal with than if the road went through pristine land.”

According to Luth and Eley, MDOT will present its initial environmental impact study (EIS) findings at a round of public hearings likely to occur by the end of this year. “The public will have an opportunity to provide additional comments, and MDOT will take all of these into consideration before coming back with their preferred route recommendation,” Luth explains.

Barring major changes resulting from the public hearings, the final draft EIS will be completed in early 2005, according to Bob Eley. “It will go to the Federal Highway Administration for final approval—that approval could come by next summer. With that final record of decision, we would then be free to start the survey and design phase, and begin the process of right-of-way acquisition.”

Still, the big question remains—when will Interstate 69 be completed? As for the Mississippi segments, Eley says that under ideal conditions the survey/design phase will take at least a year, and right-of-way acquisition perhaps another year. In his opinion, construction could not realistically begin before late 2007 or early 2008.

Funding remains the biggest hurdle for the completion of the entire I-69 project. “We’re waiting for the reauthorization of the transportation bill,” comments Lucy Janoush. “The old bill has expired, and funding has remained available under a continuing resolution. This is likely to be the case until after the November election.

“But assuming that there is funding, I-69 will happen,” she continues. “In the north, the highway is already finished to Indianapolis, and some sort of progress is being made along each of the 30-plus other segments. Optimally, the project could be completed in ten to twelve years.” DBJ