NATCHEZ &045; The news just keeps getting better for lower Silver Street.

Wednesday’s prediction that the river will crest at 52.2 on Monday means the Isle of Capri won’t have to close, City Engineer David Gardner said.

&uot;We are thinking it’s not going to be as bad as we thought,&uot; Gardner said. &uot;With the encouraging projections and maybe some more reductions in the next few days, perhaps even Silver Street will remain open.&uot;

At Wednesday’s meeting with city officials and Isle of Capri personnel, authorities decided the boat will not move to D.A. Biglane Street yet and may not move at all.

The Isle will add 18 inches of sandbags where the boat is now, docked on Silver Street. Gardner said the sandbags would make the ramps a little steeper, but may allow the boat to stay where it is.

&uot;The boat is borderline whether it has to be moved,&uot; Gardner said. &uot;The only real threat now is Silver Street, but with projections being lowered it seems daily, there’s a strong chance Silver is not going to close.&uot;

Original projections were for the river to crest at 53.5. On Monday the predictions changed to 52.5.

Silver Street was closed in 1997 when the river crested at 56.3. The casino, Lady Luck at the time, closed for two weeks, leaving 400 employees without pay.

If the river reaches 51 on the Natchez gauge, Silver Street is in danger.