A few years ago, television and cable networks were all aflutter over makeover shows.

At the time it seemed as if there were literally dozens of shows making over everything from individuals to houses and cars.

But we’ve never heard about a bridge makeover, but it’s been happening slowly in the Miss-Lou over the last couple of years.

First the historic bridge lighting project made the gigantic spans of steel and concrete come to life each night.

After years of a shadowy, nighttime existence, the lighting project makes the Mississippi River Bridge look downright majestic.

The bridge lighting project was a partnership between the Mississippi Department of Transportation, the City of Vidalia and the City of Natchez.

Although it certainly overwhelms the night sky for stargazers, by and large, the lighting project has been a hit.

But in terms of makeovers, the lighting project was merely the hair and lipstick.

Coming up next MDOT plans to add some high-tech additions including digital message boards to alert motorists to traffic information as well as underwater acoustic Doppler radar.

The state-of-the-art radar system will provide real-time information about river levels and current speeds, all of which will be provided for towboat pilots traveling along the river. The more information those pilots have the less likely they may be to get into trouble navigating around the bridge.

Our hats off to the Mississippi Department of Transportation — and its former executive director, Larry L. “Butch” Brown, who we know led the projects — for all of the bridge upgrades.

It’s one important makeover that will affect us for many years to come and likely could save lives, too.