Bridging the Gap in Pearl-Richland

After years of planning and collaboration, the new railroad overpass along South Pearson Road is complete and already making a difference for the City of Pearl, Mississippi.

The Pearl-Richland Intermodal Corridor Railroad Overpass Project addressed a long-standing issue at a busy rail crossing. Frequent train blockages disrupted traffic, limited emergency access, and slowed freight movement through one of the region’s key industrial areas. With the new overpass in place, vehicles can now travel safely and reliably between Highway 468 and U.S. Highway 49.

Pickering Firm led the design of the project, providing full services including environmental studies, roadway and bridge design, and construction engineering and inspection. One of the biggest design challenges was creating a bridge that could span multiple active rail tracks, while minimizing impacts to rail operations.

To solve this, Pickering’s team, led by Rick Ferguson, PE, designed a bridge that included a pair of prefabricated steel truss bridges. This approach allowed the bridge to be assembled on site and lifted into place during a single six-hour rail closure. It also reduced construction time, cost, and the overall footprint of the project.

In recognition of this innovative solution, Pickering received an Honor Award in the 2025 ACEC Mississippi Engineering Excellence Awards.

This project shows how thoughtful engineering can improve safety, support freight mobility, and strengthen regional connections—all while keeping construction impacts to a minimum.