Transportation commissioners defer MS‑25 bypass design work, approve multiple MDOT contracts and settlements

The Mississippi Transportation Commission spent much of its meeting on routine contract approvals and settlements but paused action on a key right‑of‑way design work assignment for the Mississippi Highway 25 bypass at Amory after commissioners requested more financial detail.

Commissioners agreed to postpone consideration of work assignment number 10 under MDOT’s roadway design services master contract with HDR Engineering Inc., which would provide Phase A final right‑of‑way plans for the Highway 25 bypass at Amory from U.S. 278 to the Highway 25 connector. The work assignment was listed at an amount not to exceed $820,057.62.

The delay followed a request from Commissioner Conway for a more detailed accounting and timeline for the project. "I'd like to put a table that until the next meeting so I can get a further update on the that project and expenses on it," Conway said during the discussion. The commission chair and other commissioners debated whether delaying would conflict with the legislative earmark that funded advance work on the project. The Executive Director said the work remains within the amount of the legislative earmark and that the funds had been provided outside MDOT’s regular budget to advance preconstruction phases. "We're still within the amount of the earmark the legislature gave for this project," the Executive Director said. Commissioners agreed to call the item back in two weeks; the transcript does not record a roll‑call tally for that specific postponement.

Beyond the Amory bypass item, commissioners reviewed and authorized a long list of agreements, supplemental contracts and administrative actions across the state. Highlights presented to the commission included:

- A supplemental agreement with Fisher and Arnold Inc. to develop a new standard drawings manual for MDOT (supplement not to exceed $50,276.70; revised total $122,350.66).

- A supplemental agreement with Michael Baker International to modify Phase A final right‑of‑way plans for I‑20 at Mississippi Highway 18 in Rankin County (supplement not to exceed $30,499.18; revised total $289,917.07).

- A bridge services work assignment with HDR Engineering for bridge load rating quality control statewide (not to exceed $628,813.84).

- Quick‑claim deeds conveying uneconomic remnant parcels along state highways to adjoining property owners for nominal payments ($990 in Jefferson County; $11,220 in Jackson County).

- A professional surveying work assignment with Maptech Inc. for topographic surveying on U.S. 51 in DeSoto County (not to exceed $452,327.20).

- Construction contract supplemental agreements, including a $287,499 addition to a contract with Dunn Road Builders for overlays on Mississippi 63 and a $424,125.26 supplemental to Key LLC for a bridge replacement project (revised contract totals and time adjustments were specified for some agreements).

- Authorization for MDOT participation in local inmate litter programs (memorandum of understanding, cost not to exceed $50,000 per year) and memoranda of understanding to allow local agencies to place automatic license plate readers and other permanently mounted law enforcement devices on MDOT right of way.

- Administrative items including approval of accounts payable ($47,930,569.82 for specified periods), approval of federal funds dockets, contract extensions and awards for building renovations, arbitrage rebate calculation services for bond issues, and motor carrier registry access through a vendor (no cost to MDOT reported for the registry agreement).

The commission also ratified executive decisions reported by staff, accepted insurance settlements for damage to state equipment and bridge rail, and authorized the Office of the Attorney General to pursue litigation and related expert witnesses in a right‑of‑way parking case.

The commission approved the minutes of the previous meeting and the meeting agenda by voice vote during the session; the transcript records motions, a second and audible "Aye" votes but does not include an itemized roll‑call for each listed contract authorization.

Why it matters: The delayed vote on the Amory bypass design work centers on how MDOT spends a legislature‑earmarked appropriation and whether commissioners have sufficient accounting and schedule information before obligating those funds. The larger slate of approvals affects bridge and roadway projects, right‑of‑way transactions, and program contracts across multiple counties, carrying financial and schedule implications for MDOT’s construction and maintenance work.

Speakers quoted or cited during the discussion were identified only by role or last name in the transcript. The Executive Director provided the agency accounting context; Commissioner Conway requested the delay. The commission set the Amory bypass item for reconsideration in two weeks; specific vote tallies for that postponement and for many listed authorizations were not recorded in the provided transcript.