MDOT plans to make more improvements to Forrest County interchange

HATTIESBURG, Miss. ( WHLT ) – Officials with the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) are asking for feedback on proposals to improve roadways in Forrest County.

The agency is working to improve safety and traffic flow at the Interstate 59 and U.S. 11 interchange.

During a recent meeting, MDOT unveiled plans for public feedback. The proposals include a diverging diamond, a roundabout, widening U.S. 11 from the roundabout and realigning Sullivan-Kilrain Road to the interchange.

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MDOT completed an overlay project and added traffic lights at the interchange three years go, but they said more improvement is needed.

"Some of the advantages of a diverging diamond interchange is that it really optimizes left turning traffic, so it significantly reduces side angle crashes, head-on collisions, and some of those more severe crashes," explained Anna Ehrgott, PIO for MDOT. "Some of the benefits of roundabouts include optimizing traffic flow, so that traffic keeps flowing, and there's no need to come to a complete stop unless you need to yield to traffic. And it also really reduces crashes in the area."

Plans are still in the early stages and could change. MDOT will hold a formal public hearing in about 10 to 12 months to gather more feedback from residents.

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