State Sen. Bob M. Dearing has stepped into his role as chairman of the Senate Highways and Transportation Committee by assessing the progress of southwest Mississippi’s important road projects. Dearing, D-Natchez, said Thursday that the state Highway Department is ahead of schedule on completion of the U.S. 84 four-lane project, but woefully behind on U.S. 61 improvements.

&uot;I was extremely pleased to receive the report on Highway 84,&uot; Dearing said. &uot;And we’re trying to get Highway 61 on a fast track.&uot;

Dearing’s appointment this week as chairman of the Senate’s Highways and Transportation Committee puts him squarely in the driver’s seat on Mississippi’s roads.

The completion of the U.S. 84 project in October of this year will be an historic event, Dearing said.

&uot;It’s very historic in my perspective –&160;it will be southwest Mississippi’s first link to the Interstate system,&uot; he said.

Once Adams County is linked to the Interstate system, Dearing said that should eliminate one excuse cited by industries that have opted out of Adams County.

&uot;The stopping point on many industries locating in Natchez has been that they love Natchez but it’s hard to get there,&uot; Dearing said.

As pleased as Dearing is about the progress of the U.S. 84 project, he is equally dismayed about the lack of action on the U.S. 61 construction.

&uot;It was supposed to be under construction in 1998,&uot; he said.

Getting the U.S. 61 project off the drawing board and onto pavement has been a time consuming process, said Buddy Russell, state construction engineer with the Mississippi Department of Transportation.

&uot;We’ve had difficulty with right of way acquisition and utility relocation — especially in Jefferson County,&uot; Russell said.

The U.S. 61 project is scheduled to be let in the year 2000, but Russell said it could be some time before it is complete.

&uot;One section of that project calls for grade, drain and pave,&uot; and that take longer than simply laying pavement, he said.

Nonetheless, Dearing said he will stay in contact with the Department of Transportation as the project go forward.

&uot;I’ve requested a meeting with Southern Highway Commissioner Wayne Brown to tell him the priorities for southwest Mississippi,&uot; Dearing said.

With plans for other road improvements statewide, Dearing said he has noticed that communities that have received four-lane access to the rest of the state have enjoyed not only increased industry but fewer accidents.

Chairmanship of the Highways and Transportation Committee is a big responsibility, but one Dearing said he welcomes.

&uot;The Coast is in tough shape,&uot; he said. The southernmost counties along the Gulf of Mexico were ill-prepared for the influx of new residents and visitors to the area with the advent of dockside gaming in 1992, he said.

&uot;The infrastructure was not prepared for the kind of growth they’ve experienced,&uot; he said.

Dearing said he looks forward to continued improvement to Mississippi roadways while improving the Mississippi economy.

&uot;One of the most important economic aspects of the highway projects is that the money is staying in Mississippi,&uot; Dearing said. &uot;Since the early 90s, highway construction has been hiring Mississippi contractors for the road work.&uot;

Mississippians building state roads makes good economic sense, he said.