MDOT Paving Work Set for Iuka and Booneville Highways

Drivers in Tishomingo and Prentiss counties should plan for MDOT paving crews this fall. The Mississippi Department of Transportation says two resurfacing contracts worth a combined $7 million will cover about 19 miles of state highway: State Route 172 through Iuka and State Route 4 east of Booneville toward Hobo Station.

Both jobs went to W.G. Construction of Ripley, according to MDOT’s latest northeast Mississippi project update. The agency expects the work to wrap up before winter.

MDOT paving on State Route 172 through Iuka

The larger of the two local jobs is a scrub seal and overlay of 12 miles of State Route 172 through Iuka, the Tishomingo County seat. MDOT lists the contract at $4.2 million and says the work is scheduled to be finished this fall.

A scrub seal is a thin treatment that seals cracks and helps keep water out of the older pavement underneath. A new asphalt overlay then goes on top, which gives drivers a smoother ride and adds years to the life of the road.

State Route 172 carries local traffic across Iuka and links to other routes in the area, so short delays and lane shifts are likely while crews are on site.

State Route 4 resurfacing in Prentiss County

In Prentiss County, MDOT plans to mill and overlay 7 miles of State Route 4, from east of Church Street in Booneville to west of State Route 371 at Hobo Station. The $2.8 million contract is also held by W.G. Construction, and MDOT says the job should be done in late fall 2026.

Milling grinds away the worn top layer of asphalt before new pavement goes down. That keeps the road at the right height at curbs, driveways and intersections and removes ruts and cracks.

Other northeast Mississippi road projects

The two local jobs are part of a wider group of projects in MDOT’s northeast district:

• Tippah County: A $194.9 million project is building 10.5 miles of new four-lane State Route 15 from Union County to Ripley, along with a State Route 2 connector at Blue Mountain. MDOT expects it to be finished in summer 2028. A new 1.5-mile section of State Route 2 opened to traffic on Sept. 8.
• Union County: Crews are milling and overlaying 14 miles of I-22 from State Route 30 to the Pontotoc County line, and repairing the State Route 30 bridge over the Tallahatchie River.
• Union County: A $58.7 million project to finish four-laning State Route 15 between Pontotoc and New Albany is in its final punch-list stage.

Work zone safety tips for drivers

MDOT reminds motorists that work zones can bring new traffic patterns that drivers may not expect. To stay safe when passing paving crews:

• Slow down and follow posted work zone speed limits.
• Watch for flaggers, lane closures and uneven pavement.
• Put the phone down and leave extra room between vehicles.
• Allow extra travel time if your route uses SR 172 in Iuka or SR 4 near Booneville.

MDOT posts updates on major active projects, including timelines and possible closures, at GoMDOT.com/Projects. Work zone driving tips are at GoMDOT.com/drivesmartms.

For more road and travel news, see our earlier story on MDOT’s Rover safety vehicle campaign.

Source: Mississippi Department of Transportation