The U.S. Department of Transportation has allocated nearly $20 million to Mississippi in response to a string of pedestrian accidents. U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson revealed that the $19.9 million Local and Regional Project Assistance Grant will be given to the Mississippi Department of Transportation for crucial pedestrian safety and mobility enhancements along the Interstate 55 corridor.
The project includes the construction of ADA-compliant sidewalks on both east and west I-55 frontage roads, as well as the addition of marked pedestrian crossings, crossing buttons, and improved lighting. Additional improvements will consist of pedestrian refuge islands and new pedestrian facilities on County Line Road and Briarwood Drive over the interstate.
Incidents such as the tragic death of a 57-year-old man named Sterling Ray Hall Jr., who was fatally struck by two vehicles while trying to cross I-55 in northeast Jackson in November, have prompted this grant funding. Five pedestrian-related crashes were reported on Interstate 55 in 2024, further highlighting the need for safety enhancements in the area. Another pedestrian lost their life in September on I-55 north near the Woodrow Wilson exit.
The allocation of these funds aims to prevent future pedestrian accidents and create a safer environment for walkers and cyclists along the Interstate 55 corridor in Mississippi. The Mississippi Department of Transportation expresses gratitude for this significant investment in enhancing pedestrian safety and mobility in the state.
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