Will construction on Mississippi roads impact emergency evacuations?

Hurricane Beryl is forecasted to enter the Gulf of Mexico on Friday. While the track of the storm is still uncertain, we want our viewers to feel prepared regardless.

Multiple projects are happening along I-10 and Highway 90 right now, which are part of evacuation routes for both Mississippi and Louisiana. Some residents have expressed concerns about the closures throughout the Mississippi Gulf Coast impacting an emergency evacuation, which is why we reached out to MDOT for more clarity.

“Typically, MDOT will open up any lane closures that can safely be opened up that way we can increase capacity for any evacuations,” said MDOT public information officer Anna Ehrgott. “Also, in a Hurricane Evacuation, we will halt any construction work or any maintenance projects and divert any MDOT crews from any maintenance projects over to disaster response and readiness.”

During previous evacuations, the Gulf Coast has seen people evacuate to the east or the west – which is along the route of these construction zones.

To avoid evacuation via these roads, MDOT has mapped out evacuation routes headed north.

“So, we currently have about 20 evacuation routes mapped out in our evacuation guide and that’s available at gomdot.com/hurricanes,” Anna Ehrgott said. “There are plenty of routes that would lead north and into safety. People have plenty of routes to choose from depending on where you’re going and your destination.”

Even without road closures, evacuations add a lot more people to the roads at one time causing congestion. Mississippi Highway Patrol will be there to help the flow of traffic.

“The biggest thing is patience,” Trooper Landon Orozco said. “The worst thing you can do is rush when you’re in traffic, and not allow the flow to actually go… not allowing other people to get in when they need to get in and blocking other people. The best thing to do is be patient and be courteous. Let them in, let the flow keep going, let the traffic keep doing. Make sure you don’t let the traffic overwhelm you.”

Trooper Orozco also suggests leaving room between vehicles to limit accidents, avoid lane changes, rest, and plan ahead to avoid traffic.

Don’t forget to download the MDOT traffic app and the WXXV Weather Authority app so you are prepared at a moment’s notice.