Possible changes could now be implemented along Mississippi Highway 12 through portions of the Starkville area. According to the Mississippi Department of Transportation, a large number of car accidents have occured along Highway 12 and a raised median, instead of a continual turning lane, could help with safety and traffic.
    According to an October 2015 press release, individuals representing Mississippi State University, the City of Starkville and MDOT met and came to an agreement on a shared vision to advance Highway 12.
   In relation to the press release, MSU President Mark E. Keenum said, “This project that will benefit the city and university is an example of the progress that can be accomplished in a spirit of cooperation with a common purpose of bettering the community.” 
    Sid Salter, MSU Chief Communications Officer, said although the project is not a university initiative, the university is in active partnership with MDOT on the south road project and are generally supportive of MDOT’s efforts both locally, throughout the region and statewide.
 “Obviously with the crowds that we attract for athletic events and for major campus events, like graduation, having an efficient traffic flow and traffic management system is very difficult,” Salter said. 
   “The university is supportive of any initiative that MDOT or city and county government would have that would make traffic flow more efficient and safer on the roads leading to campus and away from campus,” Salter said.
   As the highway serves as the main conneciton between MSU and Starkville,  any changes made will affect student life. 
   Chris Sabine, senior finance major, from Decatur, Alabama expressed beneficial reasons for a raised median.
  “If it will lower the amount of accidents then it will be a wise move,” Sabine said in addition to stating that individuals would be safer and able to avoid injuries.
Ben Nagel, interlibrary loan assistant for Mitchell Memorial Library, said when exiting the parking lot of University Square Shopping Center, drivers are crossing many lanes of traffic onto Highway 12.
  “A raised median will be a little bit better for traffic control,” Nagel said. “Also sometimes people will get into the turning lane and cruise down the turning lane as if it’s another lane of traffic. The median would break that up so there would be less of a chance of being hit by somebody that’s running really fast down the turn lane.”
   In addition to safety reasons for a raised median, Nagel also mentioned how the addition would create a better look for Highway 12.
  “It also helps for beautification,” Nagel said. “Going into town you’re going past Chick-fil-A and the hotel on the hill all you see in front of you is a flat hill of concrete. A median gives you a chance to put in some planters, trees or shrubberies.”
  Salter said there is no other ongoing project that will ease MSU’s traffic woes more so than the south road project. 
“It’s something that’s been on the books for a very long time, that has slowed and picked up momentum, but is a priority of the university to get that project completed,” Salter said.