A small but important thoroughfare in west Hattiesburg has been closed to motorists for approximately two weeks while officials work to install measures that will improve lighting in the area.
Late last week, officials from the City of Hattiesburg announced that Lamar Boulevard – which runs north and south to connect U.S. 98 with Lincoln Road Extension in Oak Grove – was shut down beginning April 1 to allow contractors to install lighting along the street’s median. The work is expected to take up to 14 working days, depending on weather conditions.
“Any time that we can add lighting in an area that needs it, it helps improve safety for motorists, pedestrians and just anybody in that area,” said Jeffrey George, who serves as president for Hattiesburg City Council. “So we know Lamar Boulevard is a growing area and there’s development happening out there, so we want to make sure that we’re supporting that development.”
Access to businesses on Lamar Boulevard will remain open, but no through traffic will be allowed on the street until work is completed.
On the north end of Lamar Boulevard, the street will be open from U.S. 98 to the intersection of Office Park Drive. The south end of Lamar Boulevard will be limited to local traffic, which will be allowed to access Mike Rozier Construction, Regions Bank and Revolution Fitness.
In the meantime, motorists are encouraged to utilize nearby Hegwood Road – which runs north and south and connects Oak Grove Road to Lincoln Road Extension – as a detour.
“We know this road sees a lot of traffic and the closure will be an inconvenience for some,” states a post on the City of Hattiesburg’s Facebook page. “We appreciate your patience as we continue to improve the quality of this road project.”
The current lighting project on Lamar Boulevard is part of the infrastructure work in that area that began back in 2017, shortly after Mayor Toby Barker took office. That work began with measures such as drainage improvements and the widening of Lamar Boulevard and other thoroughfares.
“Lighting was in the original plan for Lamar Boulevard when undertook the process of rebuilding that street,” George said. “Because of some delays in getting materials they needed to install the lighting, it was pushed back.
“Then the city was really trying to find the least impactful time to close it, so that we could do it as quickly as possible. So it’s really part of the original Lamar Boulevard reconstruction project, and this is just wrapping that up.”
