Rebuilding of Petal bridge opens gateway for future projects

Kristen Kaylor and Nischit Sharma • February 9, 2026

Key Points

The South George Street Bridge in Petal, closed to vehicle traffic since 2023, will be demolished and replaced by early summer with a culvert-style bridge for cars and pedestrians.
The bridge replacement project is awarded to TruMac LLC, will cost approximately $800,000, and will be funded by local tax dollars.
Previous inspections showed the aging bridge could no longer safely support traffic, leading the city to shut it down and restrict truck access before its closure.
Mayor Tony Ducker said the new bridge could support future plans to connect sidewalks from Petal into Hattiesburg, improving pedestrian access.
Residents, including those who rely on power chairs, say safer pedestrian access would allow them to reach destinations like Dollar Tree, Corner Market, and Hardee’s more safely.

PETAL — After years of safety concerns and weight restrictions, the South George Street Bridge in Petal is being replaced — a project city leaders say could also support future pedestrian connections between Petal and Hattiesburg.

The bridge, which has been closed to vehicle traffic since 2023, will be demolished and replaced by early summer with a culvert-style bridge designed for both cars and pedestrians.

Mayor Tony Ducker said the project, which was awarded to TruMac LLC, will cost approximately $800,000 and will be paid for using local tax dollars. Ducker said inspections over time showed the aging bridge could no longer safely support traffic.

Close-up of traffic signs showing a 5-ton weight limit and no truck access near the closed bridge in Petal, Mississippi. — Signs near the South George Street Bridge show a 5-ton weight limit and restrict truck access before the bridge’s closure. The city determined the aging structure could no longer safely support traffic. (Kristen Kaylor)

“(The bridge) went through one inspection, (and) they lowered the weight limit, and then the next time they came through, they said, ‘it’s just kind of at that point,‘ so we had to make the call to go ahead and shut it down,” Ducker said.

Ducker said the replacement could also support longer-term plans to connect sidewalks from Petal into Hattiesburg, a goal he previously discussed with RHCJC in December.

“Someone, in theory, could park here behind City Hall at Hinton Park … and go up Matthews Branch or hang a right and head over into Hattiesburg,” he said. “We’re really excited about getting some of these things a little further down the line.”

For residents who rely on walking or mobility devices, the project addresses safety concerns they say limit access to everyday destinations.

A shallow creek runs beneath the closed South George Street Bridge in Petal, surrounded by bare branches and brush. — Water flows beneath the South George Street Bridge, which is set to be replaced by early summer. City leaders say the culvert-style replacement will improve pedestrian safety and access. (Kristen Kaylor)

Judy Longstaff, who lives less than a mile from the bridge, said she and other women in her apartment complex often cross the bridge to get into town. Some use power chairs and avoid the Main Street sidewalk because of its condition.

Instead, they cross the bridge area, where traffic speed is a concern. “One lady — I asked her to go to the park with me today,” Longstaff said. “She was expressing, ‘I’m afraid, I won’t go down that road.’”

Longstaff said safer pedestrian access would allow residents to move around town without fear.

“We want to go to Dollar Tree. We want to go to Corner Market,” she said. “We want to go to Hardee’s and have something to eat … and we’re not able to do that because it’s not safe.”