NATCHEZ &045; The bumpy roads and one-lane drive on U.S. 61 North should give way to freshly laid blacktop in a little less than a month’s time.

Road construction on D’Evereux Drive/U.S. 61 started last Thursday and contractors have 27 workdays to complete the project.

Local contractor W.E. Blain and Sons’ workers are grinding off about an inch and a half of the old surface and putting down a new one, said Jim Eggleston, resident engineer with the Mississippi Department of Transportation.

The state funded project starts at the state maintenance line &045; where Liberty Road intersects &045; and continues north to just before the traffic light and intersection of Seargent S. Prentiss Drive.

Eggleston said both northbound and southbound lanes would be restricted to only one lane of traffic at times while the contractors are working.

Both lanes will be opened when workers are off-duty, usually after 7 p.m.

Once a lane is grated completely the workers have 48 hours to lay new pavement, he said, so drivers won’t be forced to drive on rough roads for long.

One lane of the southbound road and one on the northbound road had been repaved by the end of the day Wednesday.

&uot;We always request the patience of the driving public,&uot; Eggleston said. &uot;We know it’s an inconvenience, but it’s always an improvement when it’s done.&uot;

The project is expected to cost $348,000.