MDOT To Replace US 51 Bridge At Coldwater River

BATESVILLE, Miss. (PRESS RELEASE) – Due to the recent flood event, the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) is moving forward with a project to replace the Coldwater River Bridge on U.S. Highway 51 in Tate County.

“This bridge was already on the schedule for replacement later this year,” said MDOT Executive Director Melinda McGrath.

“However, due to the damage exacerbated by the recent weather event, MDOT has made the decision to accelerate this bridge replacement project.”

The project will replace the existing 1,100 foot bridge with a new 2,000 foot bridge and raise the roadway by four feet to prevent future flooding.

The letting process for bids is scheduled to being in May.

MDOT anticipates the project will take between 18 and 24 months to complete, but a definite timeline for completion has not been established as plans for the project are still being finalized.

MDOT closed the Coldwater River Bridge on March 11.

The bridge will remain closed until the replacement project is complete. A signed detour route is in place directing motorists to use Interstate 55 between Hernando and Coldwater.

After inspection, MDOT determined repairing the bridge was not a feasible or economical solution because of damage caused by floodwaters and the bridge’s low sufficiency rating.

The bridge was scheduled for replacement in November 2016.

“The safety of the traveling public is our number one priority,” McGrath said. “We ask for patience as we continue disaster response and work to repair Mississippi’s transportation infrastructure.”