Upgrades approved for deadly railroad crossing in South MS. What’s the plan?
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- Federal Highway Administration funding lights, gate for deadly crossing.
- Latest crash killed five; it was the third fatal collision at that crossing.
- Canadian Pacific Kansas City railway reviewing crossing upgrades design.
A Stone County railroad crossing where five people lost their lives in a train collision Friday will be upgraded with a crossing gate and lights.
The Mississippi Department of Transportation is awaiting an estimate from the Canadian Pacific Kansas City railway on the cost of the upgrades, which will be funded by the Federal Highway Administration.
“Once MDOT receives the estimate, we will authorize funding for the construction phase and issue a notice to proceed for the railroad to begin the installation of the flashing lights and gates,” MDOT public information officer Anna Ehrgott said. “The railroad will then perform the work according to their schedule.”
Four of the five killed were in their 20s, while the fifth was the 45-year-old mother of two women who died. It was the third fatal accident in about three years at the intersection. Each of the previous accidents — one in February and another in April 2023 — killed one. The 2023 accident also injured three people when a van and train collided.
Railroad crossing upgrade coming
The crossing is currently marked only with a railroad crossing sign and a stop sign. The crossing has become more dangerous as the population — and traffic — increases north of the Coast. Stone County’s population has increased by 10.5% in the last 15 years.
“This crossing that we’re talking about now is a very busy crossing,” said Supervisor Jimmy Spring of District 1, where the crossing is located. “Anything, it would be better than what’s going on now, that’s for sure. I’m just looking for some change. We’ve got to have it.”
Although MDOT could not provide a timeframe for the work, Spring said he understands the project will be “expedited.”
He added, “Nothing’s going to happen soon enough. I just hope we don’t have another accident.”
Factors MDOT considers for crossing upgrades are:
- The number of trains per day traveling through the crossing.
- Train speeds.
- Daily vehicle count.
MDOT in November 2025 requested funding from the Federal Highway Administration to upgrade seven crossings on the CPKC line from Gulfport to Hattiesburg, including the Pump Branch Road crossing, Ehrgott said. Funding was approved for the Pump Branch Crossing and design work completed.
CPKC will build and install the gate and lights. The Sun Herald is awaiting further information from CPKC.
This story was originally published March 30, 2026 at 3:05 PM.
