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NATCHEZ — Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson said on Tuesday that the Mississippi Department of Transportation had verbally approved moving the entrance to Walmart and Natchez High School and Middle School a bit to the north to accommodate a proposed shopping center.

At Tuesday’s meeting of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen, Gibson said MDOT will soon give written approval for the project.

Horne Development of Knoxville, Tennessee, holds an option on 30 acres of city-owned property, which is now wooded property to the north of Walmart on Seargent S. Prentiss Drive.

Horne plans to develop a $40 million retail shopping complex on the property, but Gibson said that plan is contingent on being able to move the entrance to the property.

Gibson said the city may need to “front” the money for engineering and other costs associated with moving the intersection. However, he said the money would come back to the city with the purchase price for the property, which has not been disclosed.