Video: Bridge Overhaul Means Detour For Some Motorists

ITAWAMBA CO. MISS. (WCBI) -For more than thirty years, Tim Gillentine has owned the Dorsey Food Mart.

Usually, business is steady, but lately things have changed, especially
during the early morning and late afternoon rushes.

“Not much traffic now,” Gillentine said.

Many of Gillentine’s customers are being rerouted because of work on the
Mantachie Creek Bridge. The 67 year old structure was recently deemed
“fracture critical” by the Mississippi Department of Transportation.

MDOT Engineer Jamie McDonald says while the bridge isn’t in danger of
collapsing at any moment, there are several items needing repair.

“Some items have been struck by overheight loads, some needed to be repaired
and replaced, some expansion had caused some damage to the substructure of
the bridge,” McDonald said.

The bridge overhaul means more than a mile of Highway 178 is closed, between
Bethel Church and Ben Moore roads. Traffic is detoured through Fawn Grove
Road.

Although a lot of the work on this bridge takes place during the summer
months, once the new school year starts, those who are driven to school, or
take the bus, will be impacted.

Michael Nanney is superintendent of the Itawamba County School District. He
says about four bus routes will be affected.

“It is something that has to be done, we don’t want a bus going across the
bridge that was dangerous and putting kids at risk,” Supt. Nanney said.

Tim Gillentine also understands the repairs are necessary, and he says some
of his longtime customers are literally going out of their way to shop at
the Dorsey Food Mart.

“I really appreciate it, I try and thank them for going around, cause I know
it’s an inconvenience for them.,” Gillentine said.

The $744,000 project will be complete in October. Engineers say the work takes so long because the old, lead based paint, must
be removed very carefully , in accordance with EPA guidelines.