NATCHEZ — After two years of barrels and bumps the work on the Liberty Road bridge is all but done.

Though the bridge needs some finishing touches and some roadwork remains on the stretch into and out of the bridge, the state will make things official today.

The Mississippi Department of Transportation will host a ribbon cutting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. today at the Liberty Road and Seargent S. Prentiss Drive interchange.

Southern District Transportation Commissioner Wayne Brown, MDOT Director Larry L. “Butch” Brown and local leaders will speak.

The total project cost was $18.5 million. Work began in August 2005. The goal was to replace an aging bridge that had been at the site for more than 40 years.

In the process, MDOT also created a half-cloverleaf interchange with U.S. 61.

The project includes the two-span bridge carrying six lanes of traffic, concrete curb and gutter with drainage system, decorative lighting and landscaping.