Ribbon cutting on U.S. 82 Greenville Bypass

Officials cut the ribbon August 27 on the new U.S. 82 Greenville Bypass, a 16-mile, four-lane project linking Leland to the Mississippi River Bridge. The roadway is officially designated the Anse Dees Memorial Bypass.

For Leland drivers, the bypass means quicker, safer access west without the risk of overshooting into Arkansas. Local stops like Atomic Liquors and the UPSUR Clinic are back on the route, and motorists can expect smoother trips between Leland, Greenville and the bridge. As of late September, drivers exiting near Atomic and UPSUR in Leland to rejoin U.S. 82 must still turn right.

The $216 million project began in 2022 and finished ahead of schedule, with work that included paving, bridge repairs and installation of traffic technology such as cameras and message boards.

Mississippi Transportation Commission Chairman Willie Simmons said the bypass will strengthen Greenville’s role as a port city and expand opportunities for Delta development.

Congressman Bennie Thompson added, “If we want industry to come, we don’t need the transportation system to be a reason they don’t. If you build it, they will come.”

The bypass honors Anselm “Anse” Dees, a decorated World War II fighter pilot and longtime Greenville civic leader who championed highway improvements across Mississippi.

Officials say the bypass will divert about 800 large trucks daily, a benefit that becomes even more critical during harvest. The new route speeds grain and cotton shipments to elevators and the Port of Greenville, which handles over five million tons of cargo annually.