CROSBY &8212; It may look like just another bridge to some, but for Crosby Mayor James Bateaste it&8217;s a powerful symbol &8212; and it could help boost the economy of this tiny Amite County town.

On Saturday, Bateaste and dozens of longtime Crosby residents walked from nearby Mississippi 33 to the newly revamped H Street bridge for a ceremony officially opening the structure.

&8220;Before, the bridge was just an old wood structure that had been damaged by flood waters,&8221; Bateaste said of the structure that spans Foster Creek. &8220;It needed replacing.&8221;

So that&8217;s just what the Mississippi Department of Transportation did, starting work in December to revamp the bridge and concluding the project just three weeks ago.

The mayor gave special credit to state Sen. Kelvin Butler, D-Magnolia, and former state Rep. David Green, D-Gloster, for pushing for the project.

The bridge will help Southern Lumber Co. access its H Street mill and help Georgia-Pacific&8217;s nearby mills, which are reopening to process trees felled by Hurricane Katrina, access GP&8217;s nearby land.

It would also help any new industries wishing to locate near town access Mississippi 33, the main highway running through town.

But for Bateaste and other residents of this town of 360 people, it&8217;s more than just a convenient way for them and for industrial interests to get to and from town &8212; it&8217;s a morale boost.

&8220;It&8217;s a milestone for this town,&8221; Bateaste said. &8220;Many times, we feel as if we&8217;re overlooked by the state. This means a lot for our spirit, when the state can do something for the few residents who are here.&8221;

Among those who came out for Saturday&8217;s ribbon-cutting ceremony was Oscar Hughes, who served about three decades on the town&8217;s board of aldermen and, at age 85, has been a resident since 1935.

&8220;I remember when this was a walkway just six feet across,&8221; Hughes said. &8220;I just thank the Lord he let me live long enough to see this happen.&8221;