Nearly six miles of highway and two bridges are included in the proposed project, with bidding this month and a March 2027 start date in the contract documents.
NEWS REPORT | November 10, 2026
A stretch of U.S. 72 near Iuka is headed toward a major repair project, with Mississippi transportation officials seeking bids to repair approximately 5.9 miles of highway and both U.S. 72 bridges over Mississippi 25.
The work would extend from the west end of Mississippi 25 to the Alabama state line, according to the Mississippi Department of Transportation’s November bid listing.
MDOT estimates the combined pavement and bridge contract will cost $15 million to $20 million. That is the department’s preliminary estimate—not a final contract price. The range appears in an Oct. 30 memorandum covering projects scheduled for November bidding.
Electronic bids are due at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 24, with a public reading afterward at MDOT’s administration building in Jackson. The Tishomingo County project is identified as Call 02 in the department’s notice to contractors.
For drivers, another date matters: March 10, 2027. That is the scheduled notice-to-proceed and beginning-of-contract-time date in the proposal. An earlier start could be approved if requested by the contractor and accepted by MDOT.
The proposal anticipates a notice of award by Dec. 8 and allows 189 working days for completion. It does not establish a fixed calendar completion date; completion depends on the assessment of allowable working days and any permitted extensions. These are proposed contract milestones, not confirmation that construction has begun. MDOT contract-time provision, page 36.
The planned work includes concrete pavement repairs, sealing and an asphalt overlay. Bridge work includes repairs to decks and joints and replacement of bearings. The advance quantity list also includes pavement markings, rumble strips and traffic-control equipment, although MDOT cautions that quantities are subject to change. MDOT project details.
Specific lane-closure dates and detour arrangements have not been verified for this report. The Nov. 24 bid opening should not be read as a highway-closure announcement.
Drivers can check MDOT Traffic for posted roadwork and travel alerts as the project moves forward.