Northbound North Lamar traffic detoured via Main Street to Molly Barr roundabout

The City of Oxford has implemented a new traffic detour for northbound traffic on North Lamar: drivers must use Main Street through the Lamar development to reconnect at the roundabout at Chickasaw Drive and Molly Barr Road. The reroute affects vehicles that would normally continue through the intersection locally known as the Three Way.

In a city update dated January 6, 2026, officials said, "The intersection of North Lamar Boulevard and Molly Barr Road, also known as Mississippi Highway 30 West, is now closed to most traffic until further notice." The update added that "the only movement currently allowed is from North Lamar onto Molly Barr heading east," and that "detours are posted, and city officials are urging motorists to slow down and follow signage."

A community social media post reiterated the change in all caps: "TRAFFIC PATTERN CHANGE AT NORTH LAMAR / MOLLY BARR ROUNDABOUT PROJECT ALL NORTHBOUND TRAFFIC MUST DETOUR TO MAIN STREET THROUGH THE LAMAR." City staff described the current configuration as "one of several stages expected before the roundabout is fully open" and said "progress on the project is moving as planned."

Transportation engineers recommended a roundabout for the site because, officials noted, "Transportation engineers recommended a roundabout as a way to keep traffic moving continuously rather than stopping vehicles at a signal." City officials have said the design should "reduce congestion, shorten wait times, and improve overall safety once construction is complete."

Construction of the roundabout is a full intersection rebuild rather than a resurfacing or signal upgrade. As the city described the work, "Unlike resurfacing or signal upgrades, building a roundabout requires a full reconstruction of the intersection footprint." The scope requires that "crews must relocate utilities, reshape lanes, and construct new curbing and drainage before the final surface is installed."

That scope has driven temporary traffic controls across the site. The city warned that "that process has required phased closures, shifting traffic patterns, and temporary access changes." Officials cautioned drivers that "access points and detours may change again as construction continues," meaning the current Main Street detour could be altered as crews move to the next stage.

Long known to locals as the Three Way, the intersection "marks the western terminus of Mississippi Highway 30 and serves as a gateway between Oxford and communities to the west." The area has also appeared in city planning discussions under the name "Three Corners," reflecting its longstanding role in Oxford's transportation network.

The city has not released a contractor name, project budget, or an estimated completion date in the January 6 update. For now, motorists who travel North Lamar northbound should follow posted signage directing them through the Lamar development to Main Street to reconnect at the Chickasaw Drive and Molly Barr Road roundabout, and expect further traffic pattern changes as the project advances.