Within the next couple of weeks, The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) will begin work on the Highway 607 Project in Hancock County.

MDOT will construct two new lanes on Highway 607, identical to the existing lanes, said MDOT Project Engineer Chuck Starita. “We’ll pick up a few hundred feet south of Texas Flat Road (where the current four lane ends exiting Stennis Space Center) and continue to Interstate 59 as four lanes,” he said.

The new lanes will be approximately 30-feet to the west of the existing two lanes, which will transform into northbound lanes. Existing bridges will be removed and reconstructed, according to the MDOT press release.

TCB Construction Company of Poplarville was awarded the project for $15.2 million.

The comprehensive highway project signals an additional hurricane evacuation route for local residents.

“This project will greatly improve any necessary evacuation,” Starita said. “It will also make daily travel more convenient.”

“It’s important to recognize the significance of adding another north-south corridor for the purpose of evacuating residents in the event of a major tropical event, not to mention the benefits to motorists who travel Highway 607 on a routine basis,” said MDOT Southern Transportation Commissioner Tom King.

The project is scheduled for completion in August 2015.