NATCHEZ &8212; Sometimes you have to give a little to get a little, and state transportation crews are asking for a little patience from drivers who they say will reap big benefits from a project at Liberty Road and Seargent S. Prentiss Drive.

That&8217;s where the Mississippi Department of Transportation, along with contractor Tanner Construction, has been doing site grading work for a planned interchange at the intersection.

Larry L. &8220;Butch&8221; Brown, a former Natchez mayor now serving as director of MDOT, has said the Seargent Prentiss bridge over Liberty Road must be replaced because it is 50 to 60 years old and, as a main north-south corridor, has carried a huge amount of traffic.

The interchange, a partial cloverleaf design, was chosen with public input as the design that displaced the fewest businesses and provided easy access to the most businesses along Seargent S. Prentiss Drive.

But in order to make the project happen, MDOT will have to shift lanes along Seargent S. Prentiss Drive several times during construction. That has already taken place near the Wood Avenue turnoff. And on Wednesday, MDOT will again shift lanes &8212; this time, all the way north to the Natchez High turnoff, said Project Manager David Brown.

&8220;We&8217;re asking for the public&8217;s patience,&8221; David Brown said.

All five of the lanes in question will be shifted to the west end of the pavement on Wednesday to accommodate minor grading that needs to be done in the coming days.

&8220;Eventually, we&8217;ll have to detour traffic from the north and south so the bridge can be torn down,&8221; David Brown said. However, the date that will take place isn&8217;t yet known.

By August 2007, travelers should have a more dependable and user-friendly bridge and interchange, MDOT officials have said.

&8220;It will be a little inconvenience now,&8221; David Brown said, &8220;but in the end it will be worth it.&8221;