NATCHEZ — Construction at the intersection of D’Evereux and Seargent S. Prentiss drives should really begin to fly soon.

Mississippi Department of Transportation resident engineer and project manager Steve Smith said the formwork for the bridge has slowed the project to this point, but that work should be finished within the next month.

The construction crew will begin pouring concrete for the bridge deck once the formwork is done, which will speed up the project.

Smith said the $19.7 million flyover is still on schedule to be finished in August 2012.

Crews are in the final phase of finishing the raised island pavement on the frontage road. He said businesses have been very cooperative, and MDOT has not received any complaints in the last two months.

Letty Kiser, manager at La Fiesta Grande Too, who said that business was slow due to the construction, said Thursday things have picked back up.

“We have good lunches,” Kiser said. “It’s gotten a little better.”

Walgreens Pharmacy manager Frank Waller said the customer count is still down at his D’Evereux Drive location, though

“It hasn’t really fluctuated,” he said. “It’s just been generally down from what it should be.”

MDOT District Engineer Ken Morris said the frontage routes and drainage work in front of Walgreens is almost finished.

Smith said the phasing and switching of traffic really depends on the bridge being built. He said that will be the main focus during winter construction.