Motorists maneuvering around barricades on U.S. 61 South at Signal Hill will have to wait another year to drive on a new, stable roadway.

Southbound lanes on the half-mile stretch just north of Wigwam Road have been stabilized, thanks to a $5 million effort that anchored the hillside with a series of concrete blocks.

But while Mississippi Department of Transportation officials thought the road could be opened by this month – a full two years after the lanes were closed due to buckling of pavement – there has been a delay.

Replacing the grass along the hillside, necessary for holding the dirt nearest the slide area, has taken longer than planned, said Central District engineer Kevin Magee.

&#8220We’re waiting for the grass to take,” Magee said. &#8220Then we’re going to bring the road up to grade.”

Magee said a contract to replace the asphalt and rebuild the closed section should be awarded by July, with a reopening now set for spring 2008.

Stabilizing the hill entailed placing the blocks in five rows about 100 to 620 feet west of the four-lane, divided highway, with the hope of preventing further sloughing of the road.

More anchors could be added over time as needed, MDOT officials have said.

Project manager Jeff Curtis said the median between the north and southbound lanes will see some grass cutting and work done prior to reopening.

When the lanes sloughed, state engineers, who’ve battled the problem for decades, said a permanent fix, as opposed to another temporary patch, would be designed and built.

As that has been in process, highway traffic from both southbound lanes has been guided onto one northbound lane and one northbound lane has been closed to allow the detour.