AMR Thrilled About Repaving

By: | WJTV
Published: September 29, 2009

Driving over a bump on Woodrow Wilson is more like hitting a crater, but that's about to change.

Crews are milling and repaving a heavily traveled section of Woodrow Wilson Boulevard in Jackson between I-55 and the Mill Street Bridge. They're working nights and weekends to prevent traffic grid-lock. Superior Asphalt is the project contractor.

The federal government is funding the $1.5 million dollar project, which is expected to be completed within three months.

"Woodrow Wilson has always been tough because of the conditions of the highway," said Charlean Grayer, who works in customer care at University Medical Center. "I've heard complaints from ambulance drivers in that when they're transporting patients to our emergency room, that the road is so rough for the patients."

AMR spokesperson Jim Pollard says his EMT's are thrilled about the repaving project.

"The paving is going to help control costs for vehicle maintenance, for the vehicle as a whole and particularly for parts such as the tire and the suspension," he said.

Aside from reducing maintenance costs, Pollard says EMT's can provide better care to patients when driving on smoother roads.

"A lot of care that the paramedics provide require some pretty tough hand, eye coordination and when you have the potential of an unexpected bump, then you might not be able to take as good a care of the patient as you like," he said.

With a fleet of 55 vehicles serving six counties, AMR has their hands full. But at least now, the trip into UMC will be a lot smoother.

Crews are resurfacing more than 75 miles of road throughout all seven wards. The work is being funded by a $26 million infrastructure bond. The entire repaving project is expected to be completed in 120 days.