Signs of change are visible all around the intersection ofHighway 84 and Jackson Liberty Drive, where the efforts of acommunity are aimed at stopping needless accidents, and theMississippi Department of Transportation has answered.

Laird’s Crossing, as the intersection is known, has been the siteof numerous accidents – more than 36 since 2006, which is threetimes as many as any other intersection along Highway 84 in LincolnCounty. A public outcry after two fatalities two months apart inthe spring of last year led MDOT officials to put up four new stopsigns and other yellow road signs, all with flashing lights.

In addition, a project was bid out to cut back embankments thatblock visibility, re-stripe some parts of the road, and raise thegrade of a deadly dip in the road where a whole vehicle candisappear, just before the intersection.

MDOT Project Engineer Dal Stell said a series of “road work ahead”signs have been put up on the highway to herald the arrival of theconstruction equipment, which hopefully will be in place as soon asthe weather allows.

“We’re just trying to get the signs up right now, and then we’ll beputting up some erosion control devices along the road,” Stellsaid. “We’re starting to get ready to put asphalt in theroad.”

But the temperature needs to be above 45 degrees to do that, hesaid. It helps the asphalt to roll out more smoothly.

“It’s been very wet and very cool,” Stell said. “We’re hoping therewill be a break in it this week.”

The weather is all they’re waiting on, though, Stell said. Thecontractor, Brookhaven-based Dickerson & Bowen, requested anearly start on the project and received it Monday, and the roadsigns were up the same day.

“We’re hoping possibly this week to get started, it is somewhattemperature related,” Stell said Tuesday. “The contractor looked atit and requested early notice to proceed, and got that yesterday,so we’ll try to work with them as soon as possible, and we hope theweather will cooperate.”

Word of the coming work was welcome news for communityresidents.

Lonnie Ferrell, who lives on Highway 84 and is a member of ZetusVolunteer Fire Department, whose department members along withothers in the community put together a petition that gatheredaround 8,000 signatures for changes at the intersection, said he’sglad to see the project continue to move ahead.

“We are very pleased to so that the work is about to begin,” hesaid. “We hope that the work being done will help eliminate some ofthe deadly accidents we have seen at that intersection.”

And Sheriff Steve Rushing, also a member of the West Lincolncommunity, said he’s glad to see the changes as well.

“I certainly hope what they’re doing will make a difference,” hesaid. “We’re glad to see the changes under way.”

But Stell issued a request to motorists as they pass through thearea, reminding them that the already-dangerous intersection willbe even more congested and distracting than usual.

“There will be a lot of equipment out there doing this work, and itwill be close around the intersection,” he said. “There will belane closures, barrels, trucks entering and exiting close to theintersection. People need to really pay a lot of attention comingthrough there.”

Zetus Volunteer Fire Chief Dale Anding also asked communityresidents to, as always, be careful at the intersection.

“There will be a lot of workers working that will be in the road,and we just need to be extremely cautious,” he said. “For a workerto get hit by a car, that’s the last thing we need on top ofeverything else that’s happened there.”

And knowing how important the project is to the community, Stellalso promised that workers are focused on the task at hand.

“That’s the main issue with us is everyone’s safety, and that wehope to get in there and get project started and through as fast aspossible,” he said.

Anding said he’s excited to see the end in sight.

“I’m glad to see that the project is moving forward, it’s been along hard-fought battle, and we hope that this helps and we’ll seewhat the outcome is,” he said.