Like an army of ants, representatives with the Mississippi Department of Transportation and volunteers have been scouring Natchez all leading up to the big event.

Today marks the kick-off of the 2010 spring meeting of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. The group is in Natchez through the weekend.

AASHTO, which bills itself as “The Voice of Transportation,” is a non-profit group representing highway and transportation leaders from all 50 states.

Hometown boy, former Natchez mayor and current Mississippi Department of Transportation Executive Director Larry L. “Butch” Brown is current AASHTO president and is host for the group.

The men and women who will be in attendance are truly the leaders of all things transportation in the country. These are, in the words of the average Joe, “Big Dogs” in their fields.

Brown and his staff are to be commended for the detail and preparation they’ve put into the program and in preparing the city.

The thoroughfares coming into the city look amazing. The completion of the new intersection in front of Natchez Regional is just in time to show off to delegates and the bridge lighting project is almost an amazingly well timed feat.

These sorts of things don’t just happen. Hard work is involved and for Brown’s efforts — and that of all of the other dozens and dozens of workers, tourism officials and volunteers — we say “thanks” for the great plans to show off our great community in such a special way.