WICKER, HYDE-SMITH & GUEST APPLAUD $56 MILLION AWARD FOR RANKIN COUNTY RAIL BRIDGE & TRAFFIC UPGRADE
Lawmakers Working Closely with County, State to Advance I-20 Connector Loop Initiative
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) and U.S. Representative Michael Guest (R-Miss.) today welcomed a federal award for more than $56 million to support the construction of a railroad bridge over Mississippi Highway 18 in Rankin County, as well as accompanying traffic improvements.
The Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) Railway currently runs through Mississippi Highway 18, contributing to serious congestion and safety hazards. By building a separate railway bridge over the highway, this project will remove the need for an at-grade crossing and keep freight moving efficiently across the state.
“Rankin County is committed to increasing the flow of traffic and commerce in the capital region. This federal grant is the fruit of years of hard work by local officials. It will ensure the county has the resources to bring this project to completion,” said Senator Wicker. “We are all excited about Mississippi’s momentum. It is made possible because of the bold and creative visions we see from state and community leaders across Mississippi.”
“Leaders in Rankin County have long sought to resolve transportation and public safety problems created by a growing population and a critical rail crossing. I’m pleased to have worked with them and our congressional delegation to advocate for this federal grant which, in the end, will improve safety, mobility, emergency response reliability, freight movements, and community connectivity,” Senator Hyde-Smith said.
“I am proud to work alongside the Mississippi Congressional Delegation to secure over $56 million in federal funding for the Pearl-Brandon Connector project. This infrastructure improvement will support economic growth, reliability, safety, and will improve our transportation system. Improving infrastructure continues to be a top priority for our federal delegation, and this is a great example of what we can accomplish when we work together on behalf of the people of Mississippi,” said Congressman Guest.
“For the people who use Highway 18 every day, this is about safety, reliability and quality of life,” said Brad Calhoun, a member of the Rankin County Board of Supervisors. “We have families trying to get their children to school, people trying to get to work, and emergency responders who need dependable access. No community should have to live with an at-grade railroad crossing that blocks traffic and impedes public safety. This bridge will eliminate this troublesome crossing for good and our community will benefit greatly.”
Over the past few years, Rankin County has worked to implement a series of traffic upgrades in the Jackson Metro Area through an initiative known as the I-20 Connector Loop. Wicker, Hyde-Smith, and Guest have worked closely with state and local leaders to advance these infrastructure improvements. In 2022, the lawmakers helped to deliver a $1.5 million grant to get the project started.
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