Race on to fund four-lane

Race on to fund four-lane

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Local legislators are hopeful the final phase of the Highway 19 four-laning project will be fully funded as the 2023 session of the Mississippi Legislature winds down.

              The session is expected to close by next Wednesday.

              Earlier this year, Gov. Tate Reeves proposed using $65 million from the state’s surplus monies to complete the four-laning project between Tucker and House. Phase I work is underway on four-laning Highway 19 between Tucker and Philadelphia and is expected to completed by the summer of 2024.

              The House to Tucker section is considered shovel-ready and ready to go when funded. When completed, Highway 19 will be four-laned from Philadelphia to Meridian.

              “Discussions are ongoing but we are in the last week of the session,” said Rep. Scott Bounds, a Republican from Philadelphia. “I think that it is a very good possibility that it will happen but we just don’t know until we get everything sorted out.”

On the Senate side, the same sentiments were expressed.

              “We are working to secure that money,” said state Sen. Jenifer Branning, a Republican from Philadelphia who chairs the Senate Transportation Committee. “That’s our goal to get funding for the second phase of Highway 19.”






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