Anyone who has driven lately on the stretch of Government Fleet Road from John R. Junkin Drive to Providence Road can attest to the excellent improvements since the year-long project undertaken by the state, city and county was completed.

Good news came Tuesday when Adams County supervisors learned that an additional $1.8 million grant from the Mississippi Department of Transportation will provide funds for improvements to the remaining two miles of Government Fleet from Providence Road to the Natchez port.

The grant requires a match, but the match already has been made by in-kind work done by Natchez and Adams County on the first leg of the project, which was completed in early 2004.

Further, two other new grants announced Tuesday, $300,000 for replacement of old wooden rail crossings with concrete ones and $200,000 to replace the port’s aging rail car mover, also will help to improve the port area.

MDOT Executive Director Larry &uot;Butch&uot; Brown, a former Natchez mayor, gave credit to Southern District Commissioner Wayne Brown for the port funding. Indeed, Wayne Brown has been a friend to the Natchez area, helping to get funds for important projects to an area that for many years did not get the attention of state transportation leaders.

All of the improvements will go a long way toward giving the port a modern update and providing a second route in the event of an emergency. In addition, the new route will cut off two miles for trucks traveling to and from the port from John R. Junkin Drive.

These improvements are good news for Natchez and Adams County as well as for the businesses and industries that use the port area or have offices there.