NATCHEZ — A frequently traveled bridge that spans railroad tracks on Canal Street could be in line for improvements soon after Natchez officials applied for a Mississippi Department of Transportation grant to fund the project.

During a special-called meeting Wednesday evening, the Natchez Mayor and Board of Aldermen unanimously approved a grant application for $280,000 from MDOT with no match requirement, which could help restore the bridge’s bearings, guardrail, deck and other needs.

Public works supervisor, Justin Dollar said the bridge that crosses over the Natchez Railway railroad tracks near the old tollbooth — though not unsafe currently — is in need of repairs to meet inspection requirements.

In addition, to applying for the grant application, the board unanimously approved the creation of a designated bank account to hold the grant funds when they are received and awarded the engineering contract to Jordan Kaiser and Sessions for the needed repairs.

In other matters during Wednesday’s meeting, the board unanimously approved a state contract for four crew trucks for the public works department from Kirk Auto World Inc. in Grenada, and Courtesy Motors in Hattiesburg.

Dollar said the board previously passed a motion to purchase the trucks last year and budgeted the funds. However, the purchase fell through.

City Attorney Bob Latham said the four trucks could cost approximately $25,000 each, adding that last year’s budget for the trucks would carry over into this fiscal cycle.