A Supply Chain Fix Along Mississippi’s Gulf Coast

Challenge: The I-10 Freight Corridor stretches 2,400 miles from Los Angeles, Calif. to Jacksonville, Fla. One of the most congested parts of this vital interstate runs through Harrison County in south Mississippi where local traffic, highway traffic and freight traffic from two major ports results in congestion, high crash rates, noise, and air pollution.

Solution: With help from the federal infrastructure investment law, the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) is moving forward with a plan to widen this busy part of I-10 from four lanes to six and the addition of intelligent transportation system (ITS) improvements. Economic benefits include better access to cities across the Gulf Coast including New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Houston and Mobile. MDOT also expects the project to reduce crash rates by 22 percent. In addition to reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, new construction materials will minimize the carbon footprint and provide a safer and healthier working environment for workers.

What they’re saying: “This funding and the project it supports will have a huge positive impact on South Mississippi residents and the 51,000 vehicles that travel I-10 each day,” said Tom King, Chair of the Mississippi Transportation Commission. “This project will strengthen access to Southern cities across the entire Gulf Coast region, providing greater opportunities for economic development as well as a more efficient flow of goods and services.” (MDOT Press Release, 02/02/2023)