Hattiesburg, Mississippi – On Monday, Mayor Toby Barker, U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, members of the Hattiesburg City Council and community leaders gathered to celebrate the opening of the Hall Avenue East Overpass, a project that resolves a century-old challenge of blocked rail crossings in Downtown Hattiesburg.
“For generations of Hattiesburgers, blocked train crossings have long stood as a paralyzing obstacle for safe, efficient transportation,” said Mayor Toby Barker. “This overpass provides a real solution, and we are thrilled for the neighborhoods and businesses who can now remain connected to the rest of the city, regardless of how many trains come through our downtown.”
The $15.33 million project provides a grade-separated crossing over the Canadian National rail line, eliminating one of the most significant transportation bottlenecks in the downtown area. For generations, Hattiesburg’s role as a hub for two major rail lines—Canadian National and Norfolk Southern—created challenges for residents and businesses. The city’s downtown has 22 at-grade rail crossings, which frequently lead to delays of 20 minutes or longer during peak rail activity. These delays not only frustrated drivers but also created critical public safety issues by blocking emergency vehicles from reaching neighborhoods in need.
“The people of Hattiesburg and the surrounding region have been waiting for this day for a long time. This project will make the community safer, keep rail lines moving, spur economic development throughout the area, and possibly save lives. It has been great to work with Mayor Barker and other city leaders to fix this century-old problem,” Senator Roger Wicker said.
The project, funded in part by a $5.39 million grant from the Department of Transportation’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program, reflects years of planning, advocacy and collaboration across all levels of government. City leaders worked closely with Hattiesburg’s congressional delegation and staff to secure the federal funding needed to move the project forward. Local funds were also leveraged to match the federal investment, demonstrating a shared commitment to resolving this critical issue.
“This project is a testament to what we can accomplish when local, state and federal partners come together with a common goal,” said Barker. “Above and beyond addressing a transportation challenge, this effort has been about investing in the future of Hattiesburg and showing that the seemingly impossible task is indeed possible when we go after it together.”
The Hall Avenue East Overpass also plays a key role in improving emergency response times for Hattiesburg’s fire, police and medical services. Previously, blocked crossings hindered emergency vehicles traveling to neighborhoods in East Hattiesburg, and police patrol units at the recently completed Johnny L. DuPree Public Safety Complex could not access streets located just blocks away when a train was stopped on the Canadian National line.
“The opening of the Hall Avenue Overpasses will certainly enhance our ability to respond swiftly to emergencies and deliver public safety services,” said Hattiesburg Police Chief Hardy Sims. “By eliminating delays caused by blocked crossings, it will improve traffic flow and safety, ensuring that we can better serve our community with uninterrupted access to all areas of the city.”
The Hall Avenue East Overpass is part of a broader effort to transform infrastructure and boost quality of life. This includes the nearly completed Hall Avenue West Overpass (funded by a $13.22 million BUILD grant from the Department of Transportation), Hall Avenue upgrades and the Johnny L. DuPree Public Safety Complex (completed in 2022). Together, these projects represent a $75.39 million investment in the future of East Hattiesburg aimed at reducing congestion, improving safety and creating new opportunities for economic development.
“We are seeing the makings of a true renaissance in East Hattiesburg,” Barker added. Now that we have achieved reliable access, the true potential of these corridors and neighborhoods will begin to shine through. Our commitment is to keep working to see more projects unfold.”
The Hall Avenue East Overpass and the roundabout will be open for travel on Wednesday, November 27, at 8 a.m.
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