A road improvement project that began in 2016 is making due progress, as Phase I of the work to widen Lincoln and Hegwood roads is underway to relieve traffic congestion in that part of Lamar County.
Beginning February 20, the beginning stages of the widening of those two roads commenced with the closure of the intersection of the two thoroughfares. That will allow contractors to make the necessary grade changes at that point, including grading; curbing and gutter setting.
Workers will add crushed stone to the roadway before the area is re-opened to motorists.
“This is the portion of Hegwood Road, from U.S. 98 South to Lincoln Road, and then on Lincoln Road from Hegwood Road east to just past Lamar Boulevard,” Lamar County engineer Don Walker said. “We’re doing that first phase of that with the available state funds that we have, so that portion is what is currently under contract.
“(This project was necessitated) by traffic volume in that area, traffic safety. So what we’re doing is widening the roadway, improving the storm drainage system in the area. The road will be widened to three lanes with curb and gutter, and we will install a new traffic signal at the intersection of Lincoln and Hegwood roads to help facilitate movement of the traffic.”
Changes to signage along the roadway, along with new message board placement, has taken place to alert area motorists of the project. In addition, emergency personnel have been notified of the closure.
“Starting (this) week, we will actually totally close the intersection of Hegwood and Lincoln roads,” Walker said. “(Up until now), there is traffic that can move east on Lincoln Road from Highway 11, and move south on Hegwood.
“That (is now closed), because we have to grade that intersection and put in curb and gutter to prepare it for the traffic signal that will go in. As soon as we can get the curb and gutter in, get some type of base that will allow traffic to move, we will open that back up. It’ll be just a little while before we can do that.”
In July 2022, officials from the Lamar County Board of Supervisors approved R&J Construction for the widening of the thoroughfare at the cost of approximately $4.37 million. That measure was taken a couple of weeks after the project bid came in at approximately $1 million over the anticipated cost.
“It’s a major corridor that connects Highway 98 West over to Broadway Drive, and it’s very heavily traveled,” Lamar County Administrator Jody Waits said in a previous story. “So this will be very helpful to have that done.
“Of course, there’s a lot of development there; the Regions Bank is located there off the Lincoln Road Extension, and that’s brought more traffic to it. The office park is there, and the traffic even goes to Old Highway 11 for shopping, and Oak Grove High School is in the area.”
The widening project began to be discussed before the construction of the Regions Bank loan operation center, which opened on Lamar Boulevard in 2019. That location was built after the organization outgrew the original location in downtown.
“Lincoln Road Extension to Hegwood Road is a major corridor, carrying traffic from Lamar County into Forrest County and into Hattiesburg,” he said. “It’s a pretty major commercial corridor for people coming and going to the retail sector.
“That road was built back when it was still the ‘sleepy country,’ and it was a small road. So with the amount of traffic and the growth that’s going on in the county, it’s important to get that widened to safely carry all that traffic.”
