The proposed state Highway 9 route is shaping up with two more alternatives unveiled to residents this past Thursday night.

More than 170 residents came to look at the proposed routes for the highway that has spent months under scrutiny and planning by the Mississippi Department of Transportation.

The new highway is set to improve traffic flow from Highway 6 at Pontotoc to U.S. 78 near Sherman.

Presently, the two-laned Highway 9 North takes on the bulk of the traffic flow to Sherman.

There were two new proposed interchanges for the highway. Alternative C would come off of Highway 6 between the Longview exit and existing Highway 9 while Alternative E would have a new location between Highway 9 and Highway 6.

These two alternates join just southwest of present Highway 9 and travel northeast to connect at Sherman.

Both alternatives are primarily on new locations and involve construction of a four-lane highway with an 85-foot depressed grassy median within a variable width right-of-way.

Besides the two alternates, MDOT can choose a no-build alternative which means leaving Highway 9 in its current configuration.

The highway department currently is designating Alternative E as their preferred choice because it avoids impacts to the Longview community.

This site also impacts fewer acres of farmland, 158 to the 194 acres from Alternative C.

Officials have also established that the Alternative E won’t impact any archaeological sites and was preferred by the public based on comments from the previous public meetings.

MDOT community/public involvement specialist Sedrick Durr said there was a period for comments before the Thursday night meeting, followed by an additional 21 days for comments after the meeting.

This means that additional comments will be welcome through Friday, March 20.

An alternative will not be selected by the state agency until all comments from the present public meeting are received.

More information on this project can be found at gomdot.com.