The Mississippi Department of Transportation has been quick to respond to several issues in the county over the last few weeks.

Some of the issues addressed include a broken guardrail and cable barriers along the interstate, a broken traffic signal and the signs on the Interstate.

While these are small repairs that have been addressed, it still positively affects the county and shows MDOT is trying to address problems, whether they are small or large.

It is especially important to address issues of missing or damaged guardrails since they provide for the safety of the drivers.

The cable safety barriers along the median from Picayune to the state line keep vehicles from crossing the median and hitting vehicles traveling in the opposite direction on the Interstate.

These safety measures are extremely important when avoiding cross median crashes. According to the Michigan Department of Transportation, cross median crashes are three times more deadly than other freeway accidents.

Besides being more severe, these types of crashes can potentially cause the closure of both sides of the interstate.

According to MDOT, the tension in the cables absorbs the impact and also redirects the vehicle away from oncoming traffic.

In a 2013 report from MDOT, the severity of crashes decreased by more than half since the installation of cable barriers throughout the state.

These are just a few examples of how MDOT is working to make improvements to traffic problems in different communities.

The MDOT has also been working on compiling a list of proposed improvements that need to be made on Interstate 59 in Pearl River, Lamar and Forrest counties.

In November, they began the planning process of widening or replacing up to six bridges at locations along I-59. The plans also include replacing bridge guardrails at three locations on the interstate in Pearl River County.