JACKSON, MISS. – Contractors for the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) will begin removing debris that was left in the wake of historic Winter Storm Fern. All work must be completed no later than Wednesday, Aug. 5.
Piles of debris on the sides of interstates and highways will be removed in north Mississippi and portions of the Mississippi Delta. For reimbursement purposes, MDOT was required to advertise and let a debris evaluation contract before the substantial amount of debris could be removed. Contracts for both debris evaluation and debris removal were advertised in accordance with state procurement law, which specifies certain advertising periods and procedures.
“This storm was unlike any we have seen since 1994, and the damage to the Delta and north Mississippi was catastrophic,” said MDOT Executive Director Brad White. “Our crews worked tirelessly to keep our roads as clear as possible while being away from their own loved ones who were also affected by the storm. Removing the massive amount of debris caused by this devastating storm is the next step in the recovery process.”
At the height of Winter Storm Fern, which occurred in late January, ice was reported on roads and bridges in 37 counties and nearly 300,000 residents were without power, some for weeks. MDOT began a historic pretreatment of roadways several days in advance, using more than 206,000 gallons of brine.
For more information about MDOT, visit GoMDOT.com, download the MDOT Traffic App and follow @MississippiDOT on Facebook, Instagram and X.
