Transportation

Mississippi is strategically positioned in the center of fastest growing region in the United States.

• Mississippi is centrally located among major USA growth markets
• The state is the gateway to all major U.S., Canadian and Latin American markets
• Mississippi is within a day's drive of 55 percent of U.S. businesses and major population centers
• Major air carriers serve the state with connections to principal cities throughtout the world
• The roadway system was recently ranked as fourth best in the USA, and best in the South
• Two deepwater ports
• Five U.S. Customs ports of entry
• Three foreign trade zones

Highways

Mississippi is on the move with a transportation network that is in place and on-line to ensure efficient access to the markets of the United States and the world. Highways in Mississippi are continuously being improved.
 
In 1988, the Legislature created the Economic Development Highway Fund which authorizes the Mississippi Development Authority to identify road construction necessary to make business sites accessible to other highways and road facilities. General obligation bonds are available to cover expenses incurred on the construction and improvement of highways. Companies with aggregate assets of $1,000,000,000 in the state that make a $20,000,000 capital investment, and businesses with capital investments of at least $50,000,000 that engage in agricultural, aquacultural, maricultural processing, distribution, warehousing, manufacturing, or research and development qualify for this program.

Through the Access Road Program MDA designates locations for the construction of road or highway links connecting industrial sites to existing highways. These links usually are built in tenth of a mile increments but are funded through the highway fund of the Mississippi Transportation Commission, and as appropriate, reimbursed by the Mississippi Development Authority.

Mississippi's highway system includes five interstate higways covering 698 miles and 14 federal highways. Since traffic congestion is minimal, industry experiences little lost time in highway shipments and can draw on a wider labor force area. Commuting distances up to 40 miles are common throughout the state.
 
Railroad

Twentyeight rail systems serve Mississippi with 2,541 miles of track. Comprehensive rail services include carload, trailer on flat car, container on flat car and mini-bridge shipments.

The merger of the Canadian National and Illinois Central railroads and a long-term marketing alliance with the Kansas City Southern created an efficient new rail link all along the NAFTA corridor. The agreements link together almost 25,000 miles of track stretching from both coasts of Canada through the central United States to the Gulf Coast, Texas and Mexico.

Deepwater and River Ports

Mississippi offers a unique transportation advantage; it is surrounded by three navigable waterways: the Mississippi River to the west, the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway to the east and the Gulf of Mexico to the south. These nearly 800 miles of commercially navigable waterways provide economical and efficient access to national and international markets.

The major Mississippi River ports are located at Natchez, Vicksburg, Greenville, and Rosedale and each is equipped with cranes, transit sheds for general or containerized cargo and truck and rail facilities. Smaller ports are located at Yazoo City and Greenwood on the Yazoo River which flows into the Mississippi River at Vicksburg.

The Tennessee-Tombigbee Inland Waterway, a 234-mile system of canals and locks along the Tombigbee River in northeast Mississippi, provides a shorter, more convenient route from Mid-America to the Gulf of Mexico. Ports at Yellow Creek and Columbus are equipped with cranes, transit sheds and truck and rail facilities.

The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, stretching from Florida to Texas, is the sheltered water barge route along the state's southern border, with barge facilities available at Pascagoula, Moss Point, Biloxi, Gulfport and Port Bienville.

Two deepwater ports are located on the Gulf of Mexico providing Mississippi an outlet to worldwide commerce. Pascagoula, the largest industrial tonnage port in the state, provides a 38-foot channel depth for ships calling at the 3,100,000 bushel grain elevator or loading at one of the nation's largest and most modern refineries. In addition, general cargo transit warehouses and a freezer warehouse are available. CSX Railroad provides rail service at each of the port's facilities.

The Mississippi State Port at Gulfport, a state-owned port, has a 36-foot channel depth for ships calling at the freezer warehouse or transit warehouses. Gulfport has the nation's largest banana/tropical fruit handling facilities. Two container cranes are available for handling container or bulk shipments. A 30-acre container yard provides storage for the scheduled container ships sailing to Europe and Central and South America. Foreign Trade Zone #92 is located on the dock providing distribution service to major importers. KCS Railroad provides service at the port.

Airports

Mississippi has 78 publicly owned and four privately owned airports which provide excellent facilities for aircraft used by individuals, industry and private operators. Fifty-three of these airports are attended, and seven have scheduled air carrier service. The remaining 20 airports provide services on call.

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