Officials Celebrate Completion of Railroad Grade Improvement Project in Mississippi

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) announced Sept. 12 the completion of a railroad grade improvement project in Long Beach.

According to MDOT, officials held a ribbon cutting ceremony in Long Beach at the intersection of Cleveland St. and Railroad St. The project is the first of its kind from MDOT that sought to raise nine “roadway approaches to each of the crossings to decrease the chances of a vehicle becoming high-centered, or stuck, on the crossing.” The MDOT says the nine crossings are located at Richards Ave., Beach Park Dr., Nicholson Ave., Cleveland Ave., Girard Ave., Trautman Ave., Island View Ave., South Lang Ave., and White Harbor Rd. The project was funded through the Federal Highway Administration’s Rail Crossing Safety Program. A $3 million contract was awarded to Moran Hauling Inc. of Gulfport, and Neel-Schaffer provided “preliminary engineering, construction engineering and inspection services.”

The MDOT says it plans to implement similar projects in other cities along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. As of reporting, a “similar project in Pass Christian is in the design phase.”

Comissioner Charles Busby for Southern Transportation District said, “The Long Beach railroad crossing improvement project represents a landmark step forward in our commitment to addressing railroad crossing safety. . . This project sets a strong precedent for others like it along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. By leveling crossings, we’re not only improving mobility and efficiency – we’re also eliminating safety hazards for motorists and rail traffic alike.”