Army Corps of Engineers Colonel Robert Crear visited Natchez Friday to tour the on-going bluff stabilization project and meet new Mayor F.L. &uot;Hank&uot; Smith.

Smith said he enjoyed the opportunity to meet the colonel, and both were pleased with the progress of the project, where crews from Schnabel Construction Co. have been working since October 1999. &uot;These people (the corps) have done so much for Natchez and continue to do so much for Natchez,&uot; Smith said.

The Army Corps of Engineers has administered the $12.5 million in state and federal funds that have made up the entire bluff stabilization project, which is actually in three phases

Work on the current project is well ahead of the projected timeline. Recent weather conditions have been favorable for work crews, Smith said.

The current $5.2 million bluff project is phase two of the project. In phase one, crews stabilized the bluff below Clifton Avenue. In phase two, crews are building a 60-foot retaining wall along 2,700 feet of bluffs from Madison to State streets.

The next, and last, phase of stabilization work will take in the area from Silver Street to Fort Rosalie.

Paperwork is already in place for crews to begin that phase.