Project Safe Crossings As the usage of the Trace increases, and traffic on intersecting roads also increases (in many cases due to new developments initiated or spurred on by their proximity to the Trace), concern has risen about the safety of several high volume / high speed intersections. The Friends of the Trace organization has recommended to the Board of Directors that pro-active safety devices be installed at these crossings:		West Hills Drive (soon to be modified to link up to Westover Drive)
	Jackson Road (Speed limit 55 mph)
	Highway 589 (main street) in Sumrall (7 way intersection)
	Highway 42 in Sumrall (45 mph)
	Highway 35 in Bassfield (55 mph)
	J. E. Johnson Road near Prentiss (acute angle crossing)
	Highway 84 / 13 Bypass in Prentiss (4 lane Highway 84 intersects with Highway 42 at the crossing)

The cost to install safety systems at each crossing is estimated to be in the $15-20,000 range ($100-125,000 total). (See Cross Alert's system as a typical example of a pro-active system). Many funding and approval hurdles will have to be dealt with before this could become reality. In order to expedite the process, the Friends are looking for sponsor / donor (s) who would be willing to finance this project while the funding requests would otherwise be wending their way through the process. This could be a life-saving project. The Saint Tammany Parish Council recently reached the same conclusion about safety on the Tammany Trace in Mandeville, LA  and is in the process of installing Cross Alert systems on their trail (see link).

A very generous  anonymous donor has recently offered to fund the urgently needed painting of the bridge over I-59, a huge project that will cost $50-100,000. The Friends are hoping that other similar sponsors will step up  to help with this safety project.  

If you are interested or know of someone or some group that would be interested in helping with this important project, please let us know. Contact the Trail Manager at (601) 450-5247, or via email.

Project Safe Crossing Pledges

Amount Pledged	Date Pledged	Name
$1500	September 2008	Anonymous