All across the Golden Triangle, crews have been hard at work developing new production facilities, repaving roads and drafting plans for new public buildings.
Starkville/Oktibbeha
Road work has made significant progress in Starkville, with the Highway 182 revitalization project reaching roughly 80% completion. The mile-long stretch of improvements will reduce the street to two lanes, add sidewalks, install new drainage and relocate utilities underground. The project, which begins near Long Street and goes up the west side of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, should be finished in summer 2027.
Downtown, the $7.5 million Main Street Revitalization project is on pace to be complete by February 2027. The project is expanding sidewalks, adding additional lighting and adding brickwork to the street. The project recently wrapped up construction efforts at the Jackson Street intersection and has moved to the section of Main Street in front of Regions Bank.
As part of $10 million in state-approved funds, Main Street Starkville in April received $500,000 for improvements along Jackson Street between Main Street and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Those improvements include new road striping, pedestrian crosswalks and additional street lighting. The project is currently in the design phase and is expected to begin construction in 2027.
Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District’s new high school broke ground in April. The roughly $127 million project has largely completed initial dirt work and tree removal and has approved roughly $27 million in construction packages since August. The school is expected to open by June 2028.
Starkville has nearly completed plans for a new roundabout on Highway 12 near Garrard Road. The project will be funded by an $8 million Safe Streets for All grant the city received in July 2025. The project is expected to begin construction in 2027 and is projected to be completed by 2028.
In February, the city accepted a $120,000 grant from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Recreation Trails Program to fund a new skate park at the Starkville Sportsplex. The remaining roughly $280,000 needed for the project is being covered by the city’s 1% and 2% tourism taxes. While the project is still under design, the hope is for construction to begin in December and for the park to open in early 2027.
The George M. Bryan Airport has largely wrapped up initial dirt work for its 1,000-foot runway extension. The $10 million project is projected to be complete by December 2027. The airport is also building a new 100-by-65-foot corporate hangar, which is expected to begin construction in spring 2027. The airport also hopes to break ground on a helicopter and living quarters building sometime in November.
Southwire announced in August plans for a $256 million expansion at its Starkville facility off Highway 12. The 380,000-square-foot addition had a planned groundbreaking in October and is expected to be completed by 2028 and bring an additional 128 jobs to the area.
Columbus/Lowndes
Columbus wrapped up about $6 million in ARPA-funded drainage work in August. The project addressed flooding issues in Wards 1, 4 and 5 and included ditch and box culvert clearing, drain replacement and erosion control. The city also used about $269,000 in ARPA funds for smaller drainage projects on Highway 45 and Summerhaven Drive, both completed in July.
In May, the city wrapped up $1.8 million in Fifth Street North improvements, including narrower lanes, new lighting, a new signal at Fifth Avenue North, sidewalks and bike lanes along the roughly 0.3-mile stretch.
The nearly decade-long Burns Bottom redevelopment is progressing on about $5.2 million in initial infrastructure improvements expected to be complete by spring 2027. Friendly City Development, which entered an $800,000 deal with the city’s redevelopment board in August 2025, has sold 12 of its first 49 lots. Houses could begin going up in 2027.
In January, the city received more than $536,000 from the Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund for a kayak and canoe launch at Propst Park as part of the Dr. John “Jack” Kaye Cretaceous Fossil Park project. The project is undergoing an environmental impact study, with designs expected to be finalized by year’s end and construction hoped to begin in spring 2027.
The city is set to begin about $3.9 million in street and parking lot repaving in October, with completion expected by spring 2027.
The city began $3 million in construction on the Terry Brown Amphitheater in June. Work includes concrete, landscaping, restrooms, a concession stand and lower-bowl seating for the 3,500-capacity venue. Concrete work is largely finished, with concession and restroom construction underway. Completion is expected by mid-April 2027.
At the Columbus-Lowndes County Airport, a new weather system has completed initial tree clearing and is expected to be installed by the end of the year or in early 2027. Construction on a new open hangar to increase capacity began in August and is expected to be complete by year’s end.
Out in Lowndes County, more than 40 roads were repaved with $11 million in state and county funds. State-funded paving began in January and county-funded work in May, with both completed in September.
In January, the board of supervisors approved a roughly $209,000 bid for a 30-by-40-foot pavilion behind the Lowndes County Courthouse. Construction was completed in September.
In April, Steel Dynamics Inc. unveiled its new $300 million biocarbon facility off Artesia Road. The site will break down organic waste, including sawdust and thinnings from forests and timber mills, to produce roughly 200,000 tons of biocarbon products annually. The 90-acre site is expected to create 100 jobs by year’s end.
Aurora Flight Sciences officially unveiled a 50,000-square-foot expansion and other improvements at its Lowndes County Industrial Park manufacturing site. The $43 million investment is expected to add 36 jobs over four years.
In August, DRC Industries, a Kentucky-based custom industrial packaging manufacturer, announced a $4 million investment in a new production facility on Yorkville Park Square. The facility is expected to ramp up production within two years and create 50 jobs.
Following three years of construction, the Golden Triangle Regional Airport completed its terminal expansion in July. The $12 million expansion includes an 8,200-square-foot waiting area, two escalators, an elevator and a jet bridge replacing the previous outdoor ramp.
The Tennessee Valley Authority continues construction on its $800 million Caledonia Combustion Power Plant, which broke ground in October 2025 outside the Caledonia town limits. The project reached 25% completion in August and remains on track for completion by May 2028.
West Point/Clay
West Point has plans to repave about $2 million in city and neighborhood streets. The city began those efforts earlier this year and has largely wrapped up the work. The remaining roads are expected to be completed before the end of the year.
Down Highway 45 South, West Point has been working on installing a new sewer line to increase capacity on the south side of the city limits. The line feeds into the city’s main plant and will increase capacity for the city’s sewage system. The $3 million project was completed in May.
In the center of the city, the West Point-Clay County Growth Alliance began its long-awaited $300,000 beautification project in May at Sally Kate Winters Park. The project includes the demolition and replacement of the park’s central gazebo, construction of new benches and landscaping work. The project is expected to wrap up construction of the new gazebo by October.
Downtown, the Black Prairie Blues Museum largely completed $173,000 in renovations that included new signage, an improved stage and sound equipment and new cabinetry in September. A new mural to help raise funds for operating costs at the museum was created earlier this year and has already filled five of 30 available spots, with portraits of donors’ pets filling the display.
In September, the TVA fielded public input on its environmental study report for Origis Energy’s $800 million solar panel and battery storage site. The site, which went public in March 2025, runs north of West Point alongside Highway 45 Alternate and is expected to produce 200 megawatts of solar power and have up to 400 megawatts of storage capacity. The project is expected to break ground in mid-2027.
Macon/Noxubee
Noxubee County’s new $2 million emergency operations center, located near the current center on Washington Street in downtown Macon, remains on track for completion before the end of the year. County officials say the new building will provide a safer, more modern facility.
Main Street Macon, revived in June after a nine-year absence, has begun meeting with residents, public officials and business leaders to plan for downtown revitalization. Long-term goals include securing grant funding for sidewalk repairs, signage and pocket parks.
The Noxubee County Adult Detention Center closed in July because of problems with the building’s electrical system, plumbing and structure. Supervisors approved $3,500 in sewer-clearing work, which was completed in September, and are still assessing the remaining repair costs with hopes of having clearer estimates by year’s end.
In September, Macon issued a local state of emergency to address $6,850 in sewer line repairs at the Adam Street lift station. The repairs are being made alongside $1 million in federally funded improvements expected to begin after bids are received in October.
Huber Engineered Woods continues construction on its new wood mill near Shuqualak and remains on track for completion by the end of 2026. The project is expected to create about 150 jobs in logging, hauling and hospitality.
Words By BRADEN SIMMONS
Airport photo Courtesy GTRA
Parkview Photo Courtesy BURNS DIRT
All other Photos by DEANNA ROBINSON