The extension of Rice Road that will lead into Ridgeland’s city hall is in its final stages.
The city accepted a $2,024,859.45 bid from Hemphill Construction Company in February of 2021 to extend the road across U.S. Highway 51 into the 25-acre lot directly across the highway. The company also set aside $70,808 out of the bid to build a trail alongside the road. The area will become a city center.
Construction was underway by summer and, on Dec. 17, the contractor milled the Highway 51 and Rice Road intersection to prepare for the final surface. The contractor was behind schedule, Director of Public Works Alan Hart said, but the asphalt surface course was scheduled to be completed by Christmas Day.
“The new signal at Highway 51 and Rice Road is in operation,” Hart said. “After [the asphalt is laid], we will have to wait seven to 14 days before the final striping can be applied, so we expect that the road can be opened sometime in January.”
