NATCHEZ

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Improvements to Minor Street are close to 50 percent complete and, in the next few weeks, the public will begin to see the work pick up speed.

&8220;So far, we&8217;ve been putting in storm drains and culverts,&8221; among other tasks, said David Gardner, city engineer and waterworks superintendent. &8220;It&8217;s not the most visible work. But now we&8217;re turning the corner, and the work we&8217;re doing will be a lot more noticeable.&8221;

That&8217;s good news for an area that, by city officials&8217; own admission, was once thought of as one of the most rundown streets in Natchez.

Ground was broken in June for the project, which is being done with $720,000 in federal road funds and a $180,000 city match set aside for the project.

Crews will widen the street to 24 feet and add a sidewalk and a parking area along one side of the street. Curbs and gutters and storm drains have already been added to help siphon rainwater to underground pipes, alleviating drainage problems and erosion.

Minor Street is so narrow it can barely accommodate one-way traffic. Poor drainage causes rainwater to erode property on neighboring streets.