DeSoto County officials are requesting that bids for the Interstate 269 project include wider bridges where major county roads cross over the interstate.

The county’s board of supervisors is backing a suggestion by Supervisor Jessie Medlin to have the county’s attorney and road manager approach the Mississippi Department of Transportation about the bridges proposal.

State officials have told the county that current construction specifications for the interstate call for five-lane bridges over some roads and three-lane bridges over others.

Medlin said he’d like to see contracts for I-269 bid with five-lane bridges over all principal roads that cross over the interstate.

Medlin said the county may find it worthwhile to pay the price difference to have the wider bridges built under the state contract. Otherwise, the county could be faced with expensive bridge replacement projects in later years when traffic on the county roads increases.

The proposed Interstate 269 project would connect Interstate 55 in north Hernando to Tenn. 385 southeast of Collierville.

The road isn’t expected to be completed until 2015.