Madison County hears progress and timelines for a dozen road projects, approves $5.75 million SS4A grant application

County engineers and outside consultants updated the Madison County Board of Supervisors on the status of roughly 10 major road projects on April 20, citing active construction, right‑of‑way work and utility coordination that will shape schedules through 2027 and 2028.

Brad Engles of Stantec said construction on the Calhoun Station Parkway reconstruction began March 16 and is on track for completion by the end of the year. "We began construction on March the 16th. Everything's going well so far," Engles told the board.

Design firms reported differing schedules for segments of Stribling Road, Yandell Road and Weisenberger Road. Shannon Wells of Garver said the western Stribling job (Highway 463 to DeWeese) has roughly 34 parcels identified for right‑of‑way acquisition and that the Corps of Engineers had set mitigation credits the county must purchase before construction can begin. "We're around the 34 parcel mark," Wells said.

Jay Stover of Michael Baker said the eastern Stribling segment will require about 18 to 20 property acquisitions and 12–14 temporary construction easements before construction‑level plans can be completed. He told supervisors the project anticipates 12–18 months for utility relocations once right‑of‑way is acquired.

Consultants reported similar constraints on the Yandell Road program and east‑west segments overseen by Wagner Engineering and Pickering: environmental clearances or permits have been secured for several segments, but Entergy and other utilities remain on the critical path. Rick Ferguson of Pickering said appraisals and letters to landowners will be issued in coming weeks and that construction dates depend on timely right‑of‑way acquisition.

On Weisenberger Road, Neil Shafer said MDOT accepted the environmental document and Federal Highway review is expected to clear the project to a public hearing, after which the county will pursue a FONSI (finding of no significant impact) and start right‑of‑way work. "The bridge will be lengthened and raised about 5 feet," Shafer said.

County staff and consultants provided preliminary cost figures: Garver's construction estimate for one Stribling package ranged in the mid‑tens of millions, and Shafer reported Weisenberger construction at about $21 million with a total project cost near $25 million when right‑of‑way and utility relocations are included.

To support intersection safety work, the board approved two resolutions to apply for a total of $5,750,000 in SS4A (Safe Streets and Roads for All) funding for the Yandell Road/Highway 51 intersection and authorized staff to prepare the grant materials. Neil Shafer will assist with application paperwork.

The board also approved a single, low bid for a Coxbury State Aid project and authorized a transfer of $688,000 from the county’s State Aid fund to cover the contract award.

Why it matters: These projects together represent the county’s near‑term transportation workload; the timing of right‑of‑way appraisals, landowner negotiations and utility relocations—particularly Entergy—will determine when construction can begin and the county’s near‑term traffic impacts.

What’s next: Consultants said the next formal engineering updates will return to the board at the second meeting in July; the county will pursue the SS4A application on the board’s behalf and continue right‑of‑way and utility coordination work.