On Friday, March 21, Mississippi Transportation Commission Chairman Willie Simmons joined officials to announce pedestrian safety improvements along BB King Rd. in Indianola.
The Sunflower County Consolidated School District (SCCSD), in partnership with the City of Indianola, will improve pedestrian safety along BB King Rd. by constructing a concrete sidewalk that will include BB King historical trivia markers throughout the length of the project.
The sidewalk will run from Wiggins Rd. to Roosevelt St., which is approximately one mile along BB King Rd. Landscaping will also be included at each intersection along BB King Rd.
“There is currently no sidewalk in this area, so pedestrians and students walking to and from Gentry High School have been walking along (and in) the roadway, which is a safety concern,” said Commissioner Simmons. “The overall objective is to create a safer transportation facility for pedestrians.”
Officials hope the improvements will also benefit local tourism, provide historical blues education and alleviate traffic congestion caused by pedestrians walking in the road.
“We are very pleased to award this grant to the school district and city,” said Simmons. “Thank you for working to keep children safe coming to and from school.”
The SCCSD was awarded $454,000 in federal funds in January 2025 for the improvement project. These funds require a 20 percent local match of $90,800, being provided by the City of Indianola.
MDOT’s Local Public Agencies (LPA) Division oversees the planning, design and construction of LPA projects funded by FHWA. For more information on MDOT’s LPA Division, visit GoMDOT.com.
