The state Legislature took another step Friday toward adding miles to the Natchez Trace Parkway. The House approved a bill that would allow the state to sell $8.5 million in bonds to buy rights-of-way along Liberty Road in Natchez. The bill, with two minor changes, now goes back to the Senate, which had already approved it.

The bond money will allow the state to complete construction of about four miles of the historic Natchez-to-Nashville route past U.S. 84/98 with an interchange at Liberty Road.

The rights-of-way are about 14 parcels of land, or about 80 acres from St. Catherine Creek to Liberty Road.

Eventually, city officials hope to end the Trace at the bluffs at the Natchez Visitor Reception Center.

&uot;This is good news for the city and good news for the Natchez Trace Parkway,&uot; said City Attorney Walter Brown.

The bond bill sets up a special &uot;2000 Natchez Trace Parkway Terminus Fund.&uot; Brown said money is unique because it comes from the state’s general fund; previous money for the Trace has come from highway department funds, he said.

Brown said the two minor changes comply with federal treasury regulations. The changes require that the bonds be issued before July 2003 and that the money be spent within four years of the issuing of the bonds.

&uot;That fits into the schedule we’ve been working from,&uot;&160;Brown said.

Because the House changes in the bill, which originated in the Senate sponsored by Sen. Bob M. Dearing, D-Natchez, are minimal, Brown said it’s likely to pass again in the Senate.

While construction on the Trace uses state and federal funds, the city has an interest in the completion of the parkway.

Bringing the road to the bluffs is in the city’s master plan, as it has been for the last 50 years.