I-55 southbound closure starts Friday

The Mississippi Department of Transportation has announced that a portion of I-55 southbound in Panola County will be closed for bridge repair and that closure will cause a detour for travelers heading south of Batesville toward Pope and Courtland. 

The six-mile closure will begin Friday evening, Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. and the interstate is expected to remain closed through Monday morning Sept. 12 at 7 a.m.  

Detour signs will be in place at Batesville exit 243. The suggested detour will be traveling east on the U.S. Highway 278 to state route 315, then on to State Route 7 and then back in I-55 at the Coffeeville exit 211. Arrow boards and signs are still placed along the detour route. Stay updated at MDOTtraffic.com, download the MDOT Traffic mobile app and follow @MississippiDOT on Facebook and Twitter.