The realignment of the southern portion of Richardson-Ozona Road is underway.

Local contractor Huey Stockstill Inc. is currently working on clearing the land where the new route of Richardson-Ozona Road will be built, Pearl River County Engineer Les Dungan said.

“The purpose of the realignment is to link Richardson-Ozona Road to the intersection of Hwy. 11, where the Highland Community Hospital is at Highland Parkway,” Dungan said. “It’ll be a more direct and safer connection to Hwy. 11.”

Once the land is cleared for construction, Dungan said local utility companies will relocate any above or below ground utility equipment in the area that may interfere with the realignment project.

“However, the realignment won’t affect traffic along the current Richardson-Ozona Road,” Dungan said.

The entire project is estimated to be complete within 12 months.

“But we’re optimistic the new road will be open sooner,” Dungan said.

Other county projects currently in development include the Barth Road and E.T. Poole Road bridge replacement projects in Poplarville.

Dungan said the bridge on Barth Road is still under construction. Detour signs are alerting local motorists about the ongoing work.

In the next couple of days, construction to replace the bridge at E.T. Poole Road will begin, Dungan said.

“When the project begins, they will place illustrated roadway detour signs for those traveling around that area as well,” Dungan said.

Both projects are part of the county’s bridge replacement program using federal funding, Dungan said.