Hey Olive Branch!
Here's our update for Sunday, February 1st.
Roadway Conditions
Roadway conditions have improved compared to the past few days. However, there are still areas where melted ice may refreeze overnight into the morning hours. Please continue to drive with caution and avoid slamming on your brakes when coming to a stop, so you won’t slide or rear end another vehicle. To reduce the risk of collisions, Olive Branch Police Department is encouraging folks to maintain at least two car lengths of distance between vehicles, allowing PLENTY of time to stop safely.
With layers of ice that feels very much like concrete combined with continued temperatures below freezing, progress has been slow, but our Public Works team won’t stop until we’re done. We are adding additional contractors to assist with clearing residential roadways for the safety of our residents, our emergency services, and so that USPS and Waste Connections can safely resume service once they are able.
Many of you asked the City's process in roadways it clears. This is how:
This is a listing of all Roadways in Olive Branch by total Miles. Whenever Winter Weather occurs, the City of Olive Branch Public Works Department focuses on roadways that will impact First Responders within the City (I.e. Fire Stations, Hospitals, Police Department) so that they can best serve the community safely. They then move out to address Arterial and Collector Roads.
ROADWAY TYPE | MILES |
OBMS COLLECTOR ROADS | 267.93 |
OBMS ARTERIAL ROADS | 54.54 |
PRIVATE ROADS | 19.19 |
STATE MAINTAINED ROADS | 56.37 |
| |
Grand Total | 398.03 |
State Managed Roads
In Olive Branch, we have just under 57 miles of State managed roadway. This is our Highways and Interstates such as HWY 302 (Goodman Road) Hwy 305, HWY 78/ I22, and HWY178. City Public Works crews cannot touch these roadways unless we are called in to help support the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT). This also included on/off ramps.
Arterial Roads
An Arterial roadway is a high-capacity road that carries longer-distance between important centers of activity. This is roadways with 4+ lanes of traffic that has traffic signals in its major intersections, much like a backbone of a traffic network. This is roadways like Church Road, sections of Craft Road, or Pleasant Hill Road, that makes up under 55 miles of roadway in Olive Branch.
Collector Roads
This is our most common roadway that moves traffic from local residential streets to Arterial Roads. Traffic moves lower in these areas (no more than 45 miles an hour) and has narrower lanes of traffic. There may be signaled intersections (traffic lights), but it much more common to see stop signs or roundabouts in these areas. This is our largest amount of roadway with 268 total miles.
Private Roads
Private Roads make up just under 20 miles of roadway. These are managed by a private entity or Homeowner's Association;
We thank you for your patience. If you see our team on roadways, please give them space as they work. Help us help you by driving slow, give room for vehicles around you, and give yourself plenty of time to stop.
If you need to monitor road conditions, you can check out the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) 's free traffic resources to monitor live road conditions at https://www.mdottraffic.com/landing.aspx .
Weather Conditions
Dangerously cold temperatures are expected this weekend, starting tonight (1/30/26) and lasting through noon Sunday (2/1/26). Wind chills for many across the state will be near or below zero. We do have sunshine in the forecast and this will still help things to continue to thaw out.
Our City Warming Shelter remains available for those in need at 9549 Pigeon Roost Road on the campus of Olive Branch Elementary.
Garbage Collection
The City of Olive Branch is working closely with Waste Connections to monitor weather conditions to resume Garbage and Recycling Collection. Currently, Waste Connections is still assessing when they can safely resume service to our City. They will not be in service Monday, February 2nd.
In the meantime, Waste Connections will be placing a dumpster for use on Monday beginning at 10am in the area of the City Park's Office and the Olive Branch Senior Center at 8800 College Street.
Waste Connections has shared that they will do their best to pick up overflow once they are able to resume service safely. If possible, please place as much bagged garbage inside your cart as possible. Any additional overflow should be bagged and placed on or near your carts.
Remember:
- check on your friends and neighbors, especially vulnerable adults and children, and pets.
- check on your home and pipes. As things thaw, there may be ice accumulation that could cause structure failure, falling ice, or that could cause other damage. If you encounter any leaks to pipes or have issues with water pressure, please call Public Works at 662.895.4111
- stay off frozen ponds, lakes, and creeks! The ice is NOT thick enough to support ANY weight.
Like always, you can find full details on all things Olive Branch at www.obms.us/winterstorm2026 .
We appreciate your continued patience as we navigate this together.