Hattiesburg, Mississippi – On Thursday afternoon, U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., in coordination with U.S. SenatorCindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss. and Representative Steven Palazzo, R-Miss., released the news that Hattiesburg is the recipient of a $13.22 million BUILD grant from the Department of Transportation – which will support the construction of an overpass over the western portion of Hall Avenue (https://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/9/wicker-hyde-smith-palazzo-guest-announce-16-02-million-for-mississippi-road-improvements).

This funding, in addition to the CRISI grant award from February (https://www.hattiesburgms.com/news-updates/hattiesburg-bridges-divides-and-builds-opportunities-with-5-39m-grant/), will go toward solving a long-time transportation problem in Downtown Hattiesburg.

In response, Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker stated:

In 1912, a local community leader stated – ‘It is the Hattiesburg spirit to go after things and to get them – especially large things.’

Today – two years of grant applications, planning meetings with our congressional delegation and a lot of Hattiesburg spirit resulted in a phone call that will literally change the course of transportation in and around Downtown Hattiesburg.

This $13.2 million BUILD grant, the largest federal grant received in recent Hattiesburg history, will be added to the $5.39 million DOT CRISI grant we received back in February to fund TWO overpasses – one for the Canadian National line on the east end of Hall Avenue and the Norfolk Southern Line on the west end of Hall Avenue.

This project will drastically improve public safety access and solve a longstanding challenge for the residents of our city. We cannot thank Senator Wicker, Senator Hyde-Smith and Congressman Palazzo enough.

Today is a great day for our city and our residents, but more importantly – it solidifies an even better, more prosperous Hattiesburg for tomorrow.

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