Interstate 55 northbound will remain closed until the Mississippi Department of Transportation can clear the right lane after overnight conditions produced additional accumulation of black ice, MDOT said in a Facebook post. The agency said it expects the lane to be cleared later this morning.
MDOT is the state agency responsible for construction, maintenance and operation of the state highway system, including winter road treatments and incident response. The department routinely posts travel advisories and updates to its social media channels and travel websites when hazardous conditions affect major routes.
I-55 is a primary north-south corridor through Mississippi that carries commuter, commercial and long-distance traffic. Closures on the interstate can cause delays, rerouting and increased congestion on alternate roads, particularly during morning travel hours.
Black ice forms when moisture freezes on road surfaces and can create dangerously slick conditions with little visible warning. Motorists should monitor MDOT travel alerts and local traffic reports for updates and consider alternate routes until crews clear the lane. We will provide more information as it becomes available.
