WOODVILLE&045;&045;The transformation of U.S. 61 into a four-lane thoroughfare in Wilkinson County is scheduled for completion by this time next year, according to an official with the Mississippi Department of Transportation.

An existing stretch of five-lane highway is also being extended both north and south of Woodville as part of the same project, said MDOT project engineer Jim Eggleston.

&uot;We’ve had some change orders that moved things back slightly, but it’s currently due for completion by October 28, 2004,&uot; Eggleston said.

The project includes the reconstruction of existing lanes from three miles north of Woodville to the Louisiana state line.

&uot;We are rebuilding the old lanes north of Woodville now, and we plan to start rebuilding the old lanes south of Woodville this winter,&uot; Eggleston said.

Old lanes are being rebuilt as part of a separate project with a similar completion date along U. S. 61 in Adams County.

Construction is also under way on portions of U. S. 61 in Louisiana.

Eventually, the Great River Road will be four-laned from Natchez to Baton Rouge.

Meanwhile, business owners along U. S. 61 in Woodville are expecting an increase in customers when the project is completed.

&uot;It should just about double the traffic on the highway,&uot; Colonial Chevrolet owner Donny Smith said.

Smith is in the process of relocating his dealership to a more spacious site at the former McCarty Ford building on U. S. 61 south of Woodville.

He hopes to finish the move by year’s end.

At the Magnolia Inn and RV Park, manager Carl Cage said the road construction has already benefited his business.

&uot;It’s been good having the construction crews staying here.

Last night all the rooms were full,&uot; he said.

Cage expects more travelers and a higher demand for rooms and RV space after the construction is completed.

The total cost of the road work in Wilkinson County is estimated at $21.3 million.

Of that amount, 80 percent is federally funded. &uot;Approximately 55 percent of the dollar value of the project has been completed,&uot; Eggleston said.

Blaine Construction Co. of Mount Olive is the prime contractor on the project.