Starkville Gets a $20M Boost for Highway 182 Revitalization

Starkville— The momentum for Highway 182’s revitalization project in Starkville continues to grow, as the city recently secured a $20 million grant to ensure the project is successfully completed in full scope. The major financial boost comes with optimism that the city can fully execute the project without having to pare down any aspects of it.

Securing Funding for Highway 182 Revitalization

Mayor Lynn Spruill announced that with the additional $20 million funding, the project that began from a mere estimation of $15 million can now proceed unhindered. The city has opened bids for the project with the anticipation for a successful completion by the end of 2026.

This much-needed financial augment comes through a Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant secured for the project. The aim of the project is to reconstruct the eastern end of the Highway 182 corridor from Old West Point to Jackson Street. The project’s scope includes major infrastructural changes such as the installation of pedestrian lighting and street trees for the entire length of the project area.

Addressing the Cost Inflation

The project initially began with an estimated cost of about $15 million. However, due to unanticipated economic factors such as the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and inflation, costs skyrocketed. The exorbitant cost forced the city to revisit the drawing board in search of ways to trim down and reduce costs.

In a strategic move to decrease costs, the city in November took ownership of a mile stretch of the highway, specifically from the Mississippi Department of Transportation. As a result, the city has the liberty to install infrastructure beneath the road instead of the adjoining rights-of-way. According to Mayor Spruill, this move should help bring down the estimated cost in the next round of bids.

Project Budget Overview

Despite the initial cost inflation issue, the city has now secured approximately $45 million for the project. In addition to the RAISE grant, this funding includes a $12.6 million Better Utilizing Investments to Development (BUILD) grant and $10.2 million from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and state match allocated for the project’s water, sewage, and drainage improvements. As the Mayor explains, the BUILD grant comes with a 20% city match, while the city applied for the RAISE grant with no match.

Project Deadline Concerns

Despite the recent financial boost, concerns remain about whether the project will be substantially complete by the stipulated deadline. The BUILD grant, received in 2019, necessitates that the project be substantially complete by June 2025 and fully complete by the end of 2026. The city is committed to expediting the project.

The Future Economic Impact of the Project

The Highway 182 corridor project’s completion promises to be a catalyst for sparking the city’s economic development. According to Mayor Spruill, the area’s property owners are likely to invest in their properties as the road begins to see revitalization. The project is expected to bring economic growth and redevelopment opportunities to the corridor.