Almost a year and a half after officials from the City of Petal closed the South George Street bridge that crosses over Mathews Branch for repairs, funds are being sought for that project and a tentative timeline has been set for the bridge’s reopening. Mayor Tony Ducker said the project, which will cost approximately $824,000, is expected to get its start sometime early next year, possibly in April.
City officials hope to get funds from the Mississippi Department of Transportation’s Emergency Road and Bridge Repair Fund, which was established in 2018 to revitalize public roads and bridges across the state. In addition to establishing the ERBRF, the Mississippi Legislature also provided the necessary authority to initially fund the program up to $250 million.
“I’ll have a contract for engineering services on the next agenda (of the Petal Board of Aldermen),” Ducker said. “We’re still trying to find some outside funds, if we can find some that can be available, whether that’s at the county or the state level.”
The bridge was shut down in May of 2023 after an inspection of the structure discovered excessive deterioration, necessitating the closure of South George Street between West 9th and West 10th avenues.
“It had some deficiencies,” Ducker said. “Bridges get inspected on the state level periodically, and we had some deficiencies over the last several years, and it had just risen to a time where the state ended up shutting it down.
“It’s just the underneath (that’s the problem) – it looks good on top. There’s some wood pilings, and we’ll actually go in with more of a culvert-type setup … which will make it more efficient. And it’ll have access for a sidewalk on it as well.”
Since the closure, detour signs have been posted around the bridge to divert motorists to the correct paths.
“It’s time (to get this fixed), and these are the things you have to prepare for,” Ducker said. “We don’t have many bridges in the City of Petal, and that particular bridge is – from a convenience standpoint – easily worked around.
“But it’s something that we ultimately have to get done. It does tie in to a grant that we’re trying to seek for some sidewalks in the area, so it’s just time.”
