Video: Part of Tupelo’s Northern Loop to Open Friday

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TUPELO, Miss. — A major section of the much anticipated Northern Loop/Barnes Crossing West road will open Friday, July 25.

The road will officially be open to public traffic following a ribbon cutting on the Barnes Crossing West Bridge over the Natchez Trace scheduled for 9:00 a.m. Friday. The official ribbon cutting will be held near the intersection of the new road and Mt. Vernon Road.

Those wishing to attend may enter from either North Gloster or from Mt. Vernon Road. Traffic will open in both directions after the ceremony.

Chairman of the Tupelo Major Thoroughfare Committee Greg Pirkle said, “We are pleased to announce the opening of the Northern Loop between North Gloster and Mt. Vernon Road. We believe this will have a tremendous impact on the City of Tupelo and the experience both residents and visitors have in accessing developing areas of the community.”

Pirkle has overseen more than $60 million in investment on infrastructure in the city as chairman of the committee.

Mayor Jason Shelton commended the Major Thoroughfare Committee for their dedication to seeing the project through to such an important milestone.

“This is by far and large the most ambitious project the Committee has undertaken. Without the hard work and support of Chairman Pirkle, Mississippi Department of Transportation Commissioner Mike Tagert, our state and federal representatives, the entire Major Thoroughfare Committee and the public support for this program, this important project would not have been possible,” Shelton said. “This project is going to play a hugely important role in the future growth and development of the City of Tupelo.”