Work begins on new Jackson County Welcome Center project

JACKSON COUNTY, Miss. (WXXV)- Work is now underway at the Jackson County Welcome Center on I-10 as crews begin a $35.2 million redevelopment project.

Phase 1 includes demolishing the existing facility, followed by earthwork, drainage improvements, and construction of a new welcome center.

Officials say the project will modernize the facility with improved security, accessibility, and parking.

Anna Ehrgott with MDOT said, “First of all, it provides a lot more truck parking spaces than it did previously. Previously, there were about 10 truck parking spaces, and this project is going to increase that number to 62. So that really helps address Mississippi’s truck parking shortage. And that also has a longer-term effect of really helping move commercial goods throughout the state.”

State Senator Jeremy England said, “We’re actually working with the tourism department and with MDOT. And so, they’re going, the tourism side of things is going to make sure that we have local artwork provided there, that we have different exhibits that tell stories about the community. So of course, we’re going to have a lot of coastal life things there. We’re going to focus on the Audubon Center that we have there in Moss Point. It just kind of shows people when they come in that this is, you know, it’s going to have that very community feel to it as opposed to just a regular a regular stop.”

Construction is expected to wrap up in the summer of 2028.