Category 9 - Congestion Mitigation: Bottleneck Reduction

Honorable Mention

U.S. Route 61, Liberty Road Interchange
Natchez, Mississippi

Natchez, Mississippi, is a historic city known for its magnificent antebellum homes. The intersection of U.S. 61 and Liberty Road was a bottleneck that discouraged economic activity and hindered visitors. U.S. 61 is a major northsouth arterial and the Liberty Road connects downtown Natchez and the Natchez Trace Parkway. U.S. 61 was a four-lane roadway except for a stretch where there was only room for two lanes making the intersection congested, dangerous, and difficult to navigate. The design for the new interchange includes a bridge wide enough to carry six lanes of U.S. 61 spanning over seven full lanes of Liberty Road, providing for acceleration lanes, a left-turn lane, and full-width shoulders. New project signage makes navigating easy and intuitive. The bridge design and architectural elements mesh with the area's distinct historic character and serve as a "gateway" to the community.

Designer: ABMB Engineers, Inc., Baton Rouge, LA
Contractor: Tanner Construction Co., Inc., Ellisville, MS
Owner: Mississippi Department of Transportation, Jackson, MS