NATCHEZ — Entergy began trimming trees in the downtown area Wednesday in an effort to prevent limbs and trees from falling on power lines during storms and causing power outages.

Entergy Customer Service Manager Tim Runnels said the vegetation management work, which is being done by a contracted company, started Wednesday on Canal and Green streets. This week’s work also included Percy, Oscar and Simmons streets.

Runnels said the tree trimming will be done on 40 miles of power line and will include mowing, trimming, applying herbicides and removing trees outside of the right-of-way that are dead and in danger of falling on power lines.

He said it is important the vegetation near power poles is maintained to prevent outages, as well as make roads safer.

Trimming will be completed on the south side of John R. Junkin Drive, north side of Cemetery Road, St. Charles Street, Brenham Avenue, a portion of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Old Washington Road, D’Evereux Drive, U.S. 61 stopping near Burger King and Seargent S. Prentiss Drive just south of Walmart.

Crews will finish up work, Runnels said, in the Duncan Park, Roselawn Avenue and Liberty Road areas in the next two weeks.

Runnels said residents on the roads where the tree trimming is being done will be notified by an automated phone message system and door hangers at their houses.

Runnels said Entergy representatives met with city officials to inform them of the work prior to its start. He said he will also be giving weekly updates on the progress of the tree trimming to Mayor Jake Middleton and Natchez City Engineer David Gardner.

The work, Runnels said, is scheduled to be finished by the end of February.