WOODVILLE &045; The doorway to southwest Mississippi was officially opened Tuesday.

The four-laning of U.S. 61 from Mississippi 563 to the Louisiana state line ushers not only people, but jobs, industry and development into the region, officials said.

&uot;The opportunity now exists,&uot; said Larry L. &uot;Butch&uot; Brown, director of the Mississippi Department of Transportation. &uot;People can’t say you can’t get there from here.&uot;

Brown, other MDOT officials, state Sen. Kelvin Butler and many Wilkinson County leaders were on hand Tuesday for the ribbon cutting of the four-lane completion.

Planning and work

on the section of the highway started about 10 years ago and cost nearly $64 million. In Wilkinson County, 27 miles were constructed.

Woodville Mayor Gary D’Aquilla said the completion of the road was something his town just had to have.

&uot;It means economic growth,&uot; he said. &uot;A safer highway and more growth for the county as well.&uot;

Brown said the Baton Rouge to Vicksburg connector was a major part of the state’s travel infrastructure and creates opportunities that haven’t been there in 50 years.

&uot;(U.S.) 61 is one of the most important highways ever constructed in Mississippi,&uot; he said. &uot;This whole restoration is what is needed to restore the economy in southwest Mississippi.&uot;

MDOT Southern District Commissioner Wayne Brown said he is hoping to see U.S. 61 affect the area the same way the four-laning affected his hometown of Lucedale.

&uot;Children can stay here, people that left can come back,&uot; he said. &uot;You can have rural living with the benefits of big city access.&uot;

Wayne Brown said he expected the highway to affect growth in Natchez, too, and bring people normally driving to Baton Rouge into Adams County instead.

And all three men said safety is a No. 1 concern when it comes to roads.

&uot;The four-lane is almost five times safer than a two-lane,&uot; Wayne Brown said. &uot;People will be alive.&uot;