Ellington

BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. (AP) — Work is underway on a new hurricane evacuation route to get Hancock County residents to Interstate 59 quickly and safely.

Crews will build two new southbound lanes on Mississippi Highway 607 from Texas Flat Road to Interstate 59. The project also involves work to transform existing highway into two northbound lanes and the removal and reconstruction of existing bridges.

Once the project is completed, the region will have its first four-lane north to south corridor in Hancock County.

The project is scheduled for completion in August 2015.

The Mississippi Department of Transportation awarded the contract to TCB Construction Company of Poplarville for $15.2 million.