McCOMB, MS

Congestion eased on city’s main thoroughfare

Neel-Schaffer provided engineering design and construction management services for the construction of a new traffic signal and other improvements at the intersection of Anna Drive and Delaware Avenue in the City of McComb. In addition to the new signal, Neel-Schaffer improved the intersection geometrics at Anna Drive/Delaware Avenue and the I-55 northbound exit ramp/Delaware Avenue.

The Anna Drive intersection is located approximately one-tenth of a mile from the I-55 interchange, causing a myriad of traffic flow issues. Delaware serves as a main thoroughfare and entrance into the City.  Therefore, this intersection receives a high level of traffic – 15,000 vehicles per day, according to Mississippi Department of Transportation traffic maps. The existing Anna Drive was too narrow to accommodate the turning movements of normal passenger vehicles.  For example, when large trucks attempted to make the turn at Anna Drive to serve the many retail establishments and restaurants in that corridor, the trucks had to drive up onto the curb or wait for other vehicles to move out of the way. This caused numerous traffic backups and snafus.

Neel-Schaffer worked closely with the City, MDOT (the project is inside MDOT right-of-way), and adjacent property owners (gas stations) on this $854,000 project. We also had to work/coordinate with the property owner on the north side of the intersection. When the design of this project began, the lot on the north side was vacant.  Construction of a Dodge automobile dealership, as well as a new access road, began during design, and our design team had to accommodate this proposed project, which became the north leg of the now-four-way intersection.

As part of our construction administration duties, Neel-Schaffer oversaw all construction activities and continued to work closely with adjacent property owners in an effort to minimize impacts to their businesses.