Roundabout for Highway 7/9 split a possibility; widening project still on hold

By Alyssa Schnugg
Staff writer
alyssa.schnugg@hottytoddy.com

After word got out that the widening of Highway 7 was put on hold by the Mississippi Department of Transportation, those who travel the busy highway were disappointed, as where local governments that had spent money in preparation of the project.

One Oxford resident took her disappointment to the internet and started an online petition that has garnered almost 500 signatures in support of widening Highway 7 to four lanes, from Belk Boulevard to the Highway 7/9 split.
MDOT was equally disappointed.
“MDOT wants to get this project done,” said MDOT public information officer Jace Ponder. “We want to get it done as badly as the residents and local officials in Oxford. But we have to work within the budget that we are appropriated by the State Legislature.”
However, there could be some relief for Highway 7 travelers, albeit that relief could be four to five years away.
One of the most hazardous areas on Highway 7 is the Highway 7/9 intersection. Ponder said a higher-speed roundabout is in the “very early” design phases.
“There are a lot of options for motorists coming through that area and it can be difficult for drivers to judge where other drivers are turning, which can lead to someone misjudging and making a bad driving decision,” Ponder said. “The roundabout will be designed for trucks so it would be larger than some of the roundabouts you see currently in Oxford.”
The roundabout would be constructed with the goal of eventually having Highway 7 widened, Ponder said.
“It will be part of the overall design of the Highway 7 corridor,” he said.
Ponder said the project is tentatively set to advertise for bids in 2021.
The roundabout is able to be funded as a “safety project” whereas the widening of Highway 7 is not. 
“MDOT has three project categories – there are construction projects, like the widening of Highway 7, maintenance projects and safety projects,” Ponder said.
History of the Project
About seven years ago, MDOT announced plans to widen Highway 7. Many property owners were contacted about MDOT purchasing property for rights-of-way, and a few utilities were moved; however, in 2015, MDOT announced the project had stalled due to a lack of funding.
Funds were already in place for the design phase and purchasing property.

In 2012, the Transportation Commission stopped new construction projects to focus on maintenance of existing highways due to funding levels.

“There’s talk of a special session coming up to address transportation infrastructure,” he said. “We hope that means there will be an increase for projects like this.”
Ponder said the online petition shows the community supports the project, but it needs to be sent to legislators who make the funding decisions.

The cost for the four-lane highway was estimated at $40,259,235 in 2012 when MDOT first began notifying property owners about the widening project. 
City of Oxford engineers moved forward with relocating utilities and spent $37,000 on design, $300,000 on sewer relocation and $460,000 on water relocation for the project, according to Reanna Mayoral, assistant city engineer. 
Lafayette County did not spend any county funds directly related to preparing for the widening; however, the Board of Supervisors did rush to find a place to relocate several county offices currently stationed along Highway 7. MDOT purchased land from the county that included the building on the corner of Veteran’s Boulevard where the Health Department, driver’s license and Lafayette County Extension offices are currently housed.
The county purchased land off County Rd. 406 and construction is on underway of the Lafayette County Business Center and Arena, where the offices will relocate once construction is complete. Also moving to the new center will be the Justice Court and Oxford Municipal Court.
Michael Rush, operations manager at JW Walker Electric said his dealings with MDOT were positive when MDOT purchased rights-of-way property. The purchase forced the business to rebuild its office about 50 yards from where it was originally.
“We can’t complain, really,” he said. “They came out here and asked what would it take and we hired someone to evaluate the property, gave them the price and there was little back-and-forth. One of the MDOT employees still calls and checks on us every so often.”
Rush said he hopes to see the widening happen in the near future for the sake of the drivers that pass by each day.
“Every day, there’s sirens and ambulances and police cars because someone wrecked on this road out here,” he said.

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