NATCHEZ &045; Surveying work has started on a project to reline a major underground canal that drains much of north and downtown Natchez, City Engineer David Gardner said Thursday.

Gardner said crews from Hartman Engineering of Picayune began surveying Wednesday in the Canal Street area.

If all goes well, surveying should take two to three months, with engineering work to follow.

&uot;That means construction will probably start in late spring or the summertime, which is when you want to start construction anyway&uot; due to warmer weather, Gardner said.

Once construction starts, the first order of business will be to shore up the inside of the underground brick arch with concrete and bricks.

The city recently received $2 million from the Mississippi Department of Transportation to match appropriations from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the project.

MDOT was able to provide the grant because Canal Street &045; above Natchez’s major drainage canal &045; has been designated a gaming route.

In addition to repairing the aging brick canal under Canal Street, the project &045; which should take 12 to 18 months to complete &045; will include repairs and other improvements to the street itself and upgrades to tributary drainage ditches throughout north Natchez.

The age of the system has led to sinkholes in addition to contributing to flooding in north Natchez. The canal caved in March 2003, taking out part of the front yard and sidewalk in front of the Canal Street post office.