Shows, Dearman, and Waits, Inc. was hired by the Pearl to Leaf River Rails
to Trails project, now known as the Longleaf Trace to provide engineering services on the
extension of the project from the Varnado Switch in Lamar County, Mississippi
to the University of Southern Mississippi campus. This project is to include
the paving of the trail, the rehabilitation of the old railroad overpass on
Interstate 59, and several buildings along the proposed route.
Recently construction on the project 
started with the painting of the bridge over Interstate 59
and the construction of the tunnel under 7th Avenue. There are new pictures of
the construction here.
Longleaf Trace
The Longleaf Trace, a Rails to Trails project, will be a 40-plus-mile
greenbelt area running between Hattiesburg and Prentiss. As Mississippi’s
first rail-trail conservation, it will be accessible to bicycles, skaters,
wheelchairs and walkers. A separate, but adjacent equestrian trail will also be
accessible. The former railbed crosses three South Mississippi Counties,
crossing small towns, pine forests and natural areas. The trail will run
through the center of Prentiss, Carson, Bassfield and Sumrall and finally
terminate on Fourth Street north of the main University of Southern Mississippi
campus in Hattiesburg.
