Jackson Free Press

Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. is announcing the groundbreaking of the Woodrow Wilson overlay project today. The announcement will come at a press conference 1:15 p.m. at the corner of Peachtree Street and Woodrow Wilson Avenue.

Chris Mims, communications director for the city, says the $1.6 million dollar project will improve the roadway from in front of the Veterans Hospital for 1.1 miles to Mill Street, and address any improvements needed for the sidewalks.

"Eighty percent of the funding came from the Mississippi Department of Transportation, and 20 percent was matched by the city of Jackson," Mims said.

The project should take 60 days to complete, but the construction won't affect Jackson State University fans trying to enter Memorial Stadium on Saturdays.

"The construction work will only be done at night, and they won't work on JSU or Murrah High School game days," Mims said.

Previous Comments

ID

151459

Comment

More details on the Woodrow Wilson project just in from the mayor's office. Verbatim: Mayor Harvey Johnson, Jr. announced the Woodrow Wilson Overlay Project this afternoon at a groundbreaking ceremony. The $1.46 million project will pave a section of Woodrow Wilson from the VA Hospital to Mill Street. The Woodrow Wilson Overlay Project is part of the Intermodal Connector Improvement Program. The Intermodal Connector Improvement Program provides funds to locally maintained streets designated by the Federal Highway Administration that connect multimodal facilities such as ports, bus facilities, rail facilities, and certain air facilities to roads on the National Highway System. Through this program, MDOT provided 80 % of the funding and 20% was matched by the City. “This is an important infrastructure project for the city of Jackson and it will greatly improve the drive for thousands of people using Woodrow Wilson every day who come to our world-class medical center, UMC, and so many other vital businesses along the thoroughfare,” said Mayor Johnson. The project will take 60 working days to complete and work will be completed mostly overnight and during the weekends. The project does have limits on the times of the lane closures: No lane closures on Labor Day weekend (including the Friday before) No lane closures Monday through Friday between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. No lane closures on Friday between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. if there is a game at Newell Field No lane closures on JSU game days at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2009-09-01T13:28:45-06:00

ID

151461

Comment

This is good and long overdue news. I hope at some point the city will remember Woodrow Wilson from Mill Street to Sonny Guy Golf Course is also a part of Jackson. While this part of Woodrow Wilson (Georgetown) is being paved as well, it would be great if the city took some action to demolish the abandoned buildings and houses in the area. It also would not hurt to find some way to make a certain business located just west of Five Points on the north side of Woodrow Wilson clean up their act...literally.

Author

blkjazz

Date

2009-09-01T13:49:44-06:00