Contact: Carl Smith
STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi State officials are asking commuters traveling on Bailey Howell Drive to slow down, pay attention to their surroundings and practice other safe-driving methods as pedestrian-friendly changes to infrastructure redesign the busy thoroughfare.
The northern portion of campus continues to receive a facelift this year, thanks to renovations to Humphrey Coliseum, completion of the North Parking Garage, the realignment of Lakeview Drive and improvements to Bailey Howell Drive. Numerous changes to Bailey Howell Drive—including reducing travel lanes in each direction from two to one; adding on-street parking; enhancing the landscape; and repaving and restriping—also will change the appearance and function of the road. These and other traffic-calming and pedestrian-friendly changes to the corridor are the result of extensive operational assessment and traffic studies.
“We are excited to continue our annual infrastructure improvements that are aimed at increasing safety for all modes of transportation,” said Jeremiah Dumas, MSU Transportation executive director. “With the improvements to the Hump, the construction of the North Parking Garage and the realignment of Lakeview Drive, the Bailey Howell corridor has seen significant changes over the last few years. This summer’s roadway project will make the corridor safer for the growing number of pedestrians, cyclists, scooter and transit riders in the corridor, as well as add much needed parking on the north side of campus.
“Because of the amount of work and number of people working on these projects, we need drivers in this area at their most attentive of their surroundings,” he continued. “The landscape has literally changed along Bailey Howell Drive, and we want to protect it and the people in the area. Please practice caution when traveling through the area.”
Pedestrian-friendly and -accommodating improvements being added to the thoroughfare this summer include a protected bike lane and a raised crosswalk for safer passage from the south side of the road to the Sanderson Center. Workers are reducing both the number of crosswalks in the area, encouraging pedestrians to cross at the safer, raised crosswalk, and road entry points into the corridor, minimizing the chances of conflicts between turning vehicles and pedestrians or cyclists.
Road, sidewalk and other infrastructure projects are expected to be completed before the start of the fall semester, while the Hump is set to open for the start of the men and women’s 2023-24 basketball seasons. The $14 million, 500-space North Parking Garage opened in April.
Visit www.msstate.edu/newsroom/announcement to find information about road closures, detours and other changes to traffic, and other construction announcements.
Contact the Facilities Management Service Desk at 662-325-2005 for questions about ongoing projects.
MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.