An announcement from the state highway department Tuesday that construction on U.S. 61 North will begin earlier than expected places Natchez and Adams County one step closer to four-lane access to the rest of the state.

And while local leaders are pleased to see progress being made, some said they are not satisfied and will lobby the Mississippi Department of Transportation to speed work along on other area highway projects.

&uot;I’m extremely grateful,&uot; said Ward 3 Alderwoman Sue Stedman of this week’s announcement. &uot;Anything we can do to speed the process along is greatly appreciated.&uot;

And Stedman said the Natchez Board of Aldermen wants to insure MDOT keeps its focus on southwestern Mississippi, especially U.S. 84, which is only 7 miles from completion.

&uot;We don’t need to sit idly by and wait for progress to run over us,&uot; she said. &uot;We need to be in the forefront helping to make sure it happens.&uot;

&uot;We’re happy about 61, but we’re anxious about 84,&uot; Stedman said.

Ward 5 Alderman David Massey agreed &uot;any news is good news&uot; when it comes to four-lane highway work in the area, but he too would rather have MDOT attention focused on U.S. 84.

Massey said he believes U.S. 84 should be on the highway commission’s &uot;short list rather than the long list.&uot;

&uot;It would give us something we don’t have now, which is four-lane access from I-55 all the way to Natchez,&uot; he said.

&uot;I feel like it’s a priority for Natchez,&uot; he said.

Adams County Supervisor Lynwood Easterling agreed highway work cannot come soon enough for Natchez and Adams County.

&uot;Anything MDOT does to help speed it along is a big plus for us,&uot; Easterling said.

But Easterling’s plans reach farther than the completion of U.S. 84.

He would like to see MDOT relocate the scales on U.S. 61 North, because of the traffic congestion that will be created when the Natchez Trace Parkway is extended.

Supervisor Darryl Grennell said he joins others in wanting to see U.S. 84 completed, but he is more than satisfied with MDOT’s progress.

&uot;I can’t complain,&uot; he said. &uot;I think they’ve done a tremendous job.&uot;

Grennell said supervisors discussed Tuesday joining the city in writing a formal letter to MDOT expressing local concerns.

But Grennell said he does not want to apply any &uot;extra pressure&uot; on the highway department, especially now they have committed to beginning construction on U.S. 61 North.