Roundabout Construction Closes North Lamar and Molly Barr Intersection

City officials said on Jan. 6, 2026 that construction crews have begun a new phase at the intersection of North Lamar Boulevard and Molly Barr Road, also designated Mississippi Highway 30 West. The signalized junction is being replaced with a roundabout, and officials closed the intersection to most movements as crews complete utility relocations, install new drainage, and reconfigure lanes.

Traffic was immediately altered under the phased plan, with only the movement from North Lamar onto Molly Barr eastbound currently permitted. Drivers must follow posted detours and temporary traffic patterns; officials warned that detours and access points could change as the project progresses and urged motorists to allow extra travel time.

The project is driven by an increase in traffic along North Lamar and the need to improve both congestion and safety at a location long used by local residents and commuters. Roundabouts are increasingly used to slow turning speeds and reduce the types of collisions that cause serious injury, and municipal planners cited those objectives in moving to replace the signalized intersection with a circular junction.

Local impacts are immediate. Commuters who use the North Lamar corridor during morning and evening peaks should expect altered routes and potential delays. Nearby businesses may see changes in customer access while the phased closures are in effect, and residents who rely on regular deliveries, school transportation, or medical appointments should plan for additional travel time. Emergency responders and municipal services typically coordinate around such closures; drivers are urged to be mindful of workers and changing signage.

The intersection is also known locally as the Three Way, a place with layered history for Lafayette County. A nearby memorial marker acknowledges a 1935 lynching, and the presence of that site underscores the area's complex past even as it moves through physical changes. Construction activity near places of historical significance requires sensitivity from both officials and residents as the community balances infrastructure needs with remembrance and respect.

Officials did not provide a firm completion date with the Jan. 6 update. Motorists should monitor city communications, obey construction signage, and allow extra time while crews continue utility work, drainage installation, and lane reconfiguration to complete the new roundabout.