Expect Traffic Delays Starting March 1 on Old Taylor

Construction on the two new Old Taylor Road roundabouts begins March 1, and drivers who use the route should consider alternatives.
The new roundabouts will be located at the intersection of Old Taylor Road and state Highway 6.
The Mississippi Department of Transportation will also widen the Old Taylor Road Bridge to four lanes and create an eight-foot pedestrian sidewalk that’s protected.
In a press release, MDOT said the construction will continue through November 2014.
Bart Robinson, Oxford city engineer, said it’s his understanding that traffic will be routed through Whirlpool property to Coliseum Drive. Per day, about 15,000 vehicles use Old Taylor Road, and the majority of that traffic will instead use Coliseum Drive.
“The bridge will be closed to all traffic,” Robinson said. “Pedestrian traffic and bus traffic will be routed through the Whirlpool detour.”
Because this is an MDOT project, it is subject to change without city knowledge. He added that the city will forward any concerns expressed by citizens to MDOT.

“It is construction,” Robinson said. “There will be long delays and exploring alternate routes would be wise.”
A traffic study on the South Lamar Boulevard roundabouts found that average vehicle speeds increased by 67 percent, and crashes decreased by 37.5 percent. Similar needs led to the Old Taylor Road roundabouts, according to the MDOT press release.
Talbot Brothers Contracting Company of Nesbit will complete work on the $6.8 million project. The University of Mississippi purchased the Whirlpool property soon after it closed in 2009, according to media reports, for $3.4 million.
 
Gretchen Stone is HottyToddy.com associate editor. You can contact Gretchen about this story at Gretchen.Stone@HottyToddy.com