Infrastructure in Mississippi

Mississippi’s six interstate highways cover just shy of 700 miles, intermingling with 14 U.S. highways and making commerce a breeze. In fact, our highway network was ranked 8th best in the nation for performance and cost-effectiveness. The state’s transportation keeps getting stronger, too — with 11 contracts awarded in March 2021 by the Mississippi Transportation Commission, the largest of which will update a stretch of U.S. 49 leading from the Gulf of Mexico into Alabama.

Whether you require a dedicated air carrier or a reliable way to bring in out-of-state customers for a business meeting, Mississippi has it. With 80 publicly and privately owned airports — 53 attended and seven with scheduled air carrier service — you can kick back and relax knowing your business has the logistical support it needs. The state offers three international airports, including Jackson-Medgar Evers International Airport, Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport and Stennis International Airport.

The 1998 merger between the Canadian Central and Illinois Central railroads pulled states like Illinois, Kentucky and Nebraska to Mississippi like a needle in a patchwork quilt. The state now offers more than 2,500 miles of track composed of 30 rail systems. Transportation providers like CSX and Kansas City Southern are here to keep your cargo moving, whether it’s with carload, flatcar or minibridge support.

With three waterways including the Mississippi River to the west, the Tennessee-Tombigbee to the east and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, Mississippi offers nearly 800 miles of intercoastal and deep-sea waterway transport. The state-owned Port of Gulfport is the second largest importer of green fruit in the U.S. The Port of Pascagoula provides public and private terminals for general cargo and freezer warehouses and is consistently ranked as a top-20 port in the nation for foreign cargo volume. Both ports offer rail service.