By John Howell Sr.

Motorists who approach the intersection of Highway 6/278 from any direction will find signal-protected turn lanes if Batesville aldermen get what they want with new turn signals.

Several aldermen at the May 4 meeting cited the need for signal-protected turn lanes when City Engineer Blake Mendrop of Mendrop-Wages Engineering discussed Local Public Agency grants to pay for traffic signal improvements at the 6/278 and Eureka intersection as well as at the 6/278 and Bates Street intersection.

Currently, motorists approaching the 6/278 and Eureka intersection can utilize left turn lanes from all directions, but the turn is protected by signal only for motorists southbound on Eureka who want to turn left on Highway 6/278.

Aldermen would also allow a signal-controlled, left-turn lane for motorists traveling west on Highway 6 who turn south on Eureka.

Grants funding signal improvements have already been approved for Highway 6/278 intersections at Power Drive, Keating Road and Highway 51, Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) District Engineer Richard Allen said in a phone call after the meeting.

Work began May 12 on an MDOT project that will replace pavement on the 6/278 corridor from Interstate 55 to the railway overpass. Workers and machinery operate from 7 p.m. until 7 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, Allen said, to minimize traffic congestion along the route.

“We’re going to do our best to complete it as quickly as possible; be patient,” Allen said. The MDOT official also cautioned motorists to go slow and watch for construction workers along the site. The overlay project is expected to be completed during the first week in June, weather permitting.