NATCHEZ — An idea to lessen traffic, inspired on the streets of Mexico City, will be making its way to the streets of Natchez soon.

The Mississippi Department of Transportation will be constructing a continuous flow intersection on the corner of U.S. 61 and John R. Junkin Drive.

Work on the project is expected to begin within one month.

The intent, of the soon-to-be reconstructed intersection, is to accelerate the speed at which traffic moves through the area.

MDOT’s executive director Larry L. “Butch” Brown said he originally saw a similar intersection in use on the streets of Mexico City and thought it would help traffic in Natchez.

MDOT’s resident engineer Jim Eggleston said a study conducted several years ago showed more than 36,000 cars per day pass through the intersection.

Eggleston said he does not have current figures for the traffic flow, but is sure the amount of cars using the intersection on a daily basis has increased.

Eggleston said the three-phase project is scheduled to be completed in approximately one and a half years.

Necessary right of ways have been acquired and very little land not already used for road will be lost to the project Eggleston said.

Phase one, which should begin within the next month, will correct the slope on both the North and Southbound lanes of U.S 61.

Eggleston said the lanes were originally constructed with a slope to allow vehicles to travel at faster speeds through bends in the road.

And with the beginning of phase one comes the beginning of traffic woes for locals.

Eggleston said traffic delays, while inevitable, shouldn’t be too severe because construction plans have been designed to allow two narrow lanes of traffic to operate at all times.

Brown said he originally thought the area, where the continuous flow intersection will be located, was ideal because there is not enough space to construct an overpass.

Brown said once completed the area surrounding the intersection will have less congestion and also harbor safer driving conditions.

The safety aspect will come into play when some of the access to the frontage road along U.S. 61 is closed.

Brown said the decrease in cars pulling on and off the highway will be safer for all motorists.

In addition better access to the Natchez Regional Medical Center’s emergency room has also been incorporated into the plans.

The project is projected to cost just over $7.3 million.