NATCHEZ &045;&045; A bill recently passed by the U.S. House of Representatives includes $1.5 million for improving three major intersections along U.S. 61 in Natchez.

A similar bill also passed the Senate, and the final bill will be negotiated in a conference committee.

Such things as increased traffic, tourism and an emphasis on economic development in south Mississippi &uot;require significant transportation construction and improvements,&uot; U.S. Rep. Chip Pickering, R-Miss., said in a statement.

Pickering also said he anticipates funding for the Natchez project will remain the same in the final bill.

Natchez projects to be funded with the $1.5 million include:

4The Liberty Road interchange, which will construct a modified partial cloverleaf and include more turnoffs on Seargeant S. Prentiss Drive north of the Liberty Road intersection.

The project will also include extending the four-lane portion of Liberty Road to the Natchez Trace Extension, said Jim Eggleston, resident engineer for the District 7 Washington office.

4Constructing a flyover at Seargent S. Prentiss and U.S. 61/D’Evereux Drive, where an old MDOT truck weigh station has already been demolished.

Under the current design, a flyway bridge would be constructed to bring traffic turning left from U.S. 61 to Seargent S. Prentiss Drive without stopping for a traffic light.

4Reworking the intersection of Seargent S. Prentiss Drive and John R. Junkin Drive.

As it now stands, changes would include widening Seargent S. Prentiss Drive to three lanes each way and extending John R. Junkin Drive into Tracetown Shopping Center.

That would create what is called a &uot;continuous flow intersection,&uot; consultant close to the project have said.

Although the Liberty Road project will require purchasing rights-of-way, the two other Seargent S. Prentiss Drive project won’t, &uot;so they could (start) as soon as they are approved,&uot; Eggleston said.

Figures on the total cost of the projects were not available as of press time Thursday.