Debris Removal Planned on Gertrude Ford Avenue March 11, Causing Traffic Detours

City and university debris-removal contractors closed the northbound lane of Gertrude Ford Avenue between Alumni Drive and West Jackson Avenue on March 11, with large equipment required to clear debris along the corridor prompting a full daytime traffic diversion.

The lane shutdown forced motorists off the northbound stretch entirely, with traffic redirected through the Gertrude Ford Center parking lot to Depot Street as an alternative path to West Jackson Avenue. Officials confirmed the detour route ahead of the operation and advised drivers approaching the area to use caution and consider alternate routes where possible.

The closures were expected to remain in effect for the duration of the debris-removal process, with the work scheduled to take place during daytime hours. No specific start or end times were announced, and officials did not disclose the origin or volume of the debris being cleared, nor the names of the contracting companies performing the work.

Both the city and the University of Mississippi contributed crews and contractors to the operation. The stretch of Gertrude Ford Avenue between Alumni Drive and West Jackson Avenue sits in a section of Oxford heavily traveled by university commuters and campus-area residents, making the northbound closure a notable inconvenience during peak daytime traffic hours.