NATCHEZ — Newly paved Natchez roads have received striping, but it’s only temporary.

City Engineer David Gardner said Homochitto, Martin Luther King Jr., Franklin and St. Catherine streets were without striping for too long.

That’s why they put down temporary paint to distinguish the lanes.

He said the permanent striping crew is slated to be in town within a week.

When the decision to put down the temporary paint was made, Gardner said the city was not aware of the contractor’s plans to be in town so soon.

Gardner said the city just wanted to get down stripes as soon as possible.

What’s on the streets right now is mere traffic paint, he said.

What will ultimately be laid is a mixture of melted plastic and glass called thermoplastic, which Gardner said is better than what’s on the roads right now.

“Traffic paint does fade over time (and) it doesn’t give you the reflectivity you can get with thermoplastic,” he said. “It’s a much better product.”