MDOT will close all lanes of I-20 WB/I-55 SB at State Street in Jackson on April 8 to perform an emergency repair on a roadway failure that has resulted in a severe dip in the interstate.
Repair plans call for the closure of I-20 westbound/I-55 southbound to begin at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 8. The closure is anticipated to last approximately 72 hours. I-20 westbound and I-55 southbound run concurrently at the closure location.
The temporary closure will have a major impact on traffic. During the closure, I-20 westbound/I-55 southbound traffic will be directed to Interstate 55 northbound and Interstate 220 southbound to detour around the closure. Local traffic should consider an alternate route on local roads during the closure timeframe.
“We understand closing an interstate in the Jackson-metro area is going to be a major inconvenience for the public, which is why motorists should begin planning their alternate routes now,” said Brad White, MDOT Executive Director. “We regret the temporary inconvenience the closure will cause, but the repair is necessary to keep the I-20 westbound/I-55 southbound corridor safe and passable in Jackson.”
The repair is necessary to address a stretch of I-20/55 failing due to what crews believe is a ruptured pipe that has heavily saturated the soil underneath the roadway. The pipe is located approximately 35 feet below the road surface.
Maintenance crews have been able to keep the roadway safe and passable by placing a foam material under the roadbed to raise the slab along the affected area, only to have the roadway dip again due to the saturated soil. This method can no longer keep the roadway from dipping, forcing the department to perform a temporary repair that will remove the saturated soil and replace it with crushed stone and asphalt during the upcoming closure.
The Interstate 20/55 repair project is approximately 65 feet long and four lanes wide. During the closure, contractors will be drilling in several areas to obtain information that will determine the cause and support recommendations on the inevitable permanent repair that will take place at a later date.
“This stretch of interstate sees over 100,000 vehicles on a daily basis and is one of the most heavily traveled corridors in the state,” said White. “Although this is a temporary inconvenience, it is necessary to keep the roadway safe and open until a permanent repair plan is in place.”
MDOT will update the public on the closure timeframe and detour. Motorists can stay updated on this project and others by visiting MDOTtraffic.com, downloading the free MDOT Traffic app, or following @MississippiDOT on Facebook and Twitter. For information about how to navigate highway work zones safely, visit GoMDOT.com/drivesmartms.
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