NATCHEZ — The restoration of the historic Toll Plaza Colonnades on Canal Street is set for completion mid July.

Live Oak Construction crews began restoring the colonnades, located near the Natchez Visitor Reception Center, in January.

Natchez Community Development Director James Johnston said remaining renovations include bringing the columns to a full restoration, and preserving the architrave, which is the horizontal beam that rests upon the columns.

The first stage of the project was to erect shoring and scaffolding between existing columns to support the architrave.

The project, Johnston said, is completely funded by the Mississippi Department of Transportation, the Mississippi Development Authority and the state legislature.

“So far, the city has put in no local funds,” Johnston said.

To date, Johnston said Thompson Tree and Spraying Services, a company related to Live Oak Construction, has received $430,000 from those three entities to restore the colonnades, which were officially declared a state landmark in January 2012.

Johnston said he is glad the colonnades will be restored to their original state for the community to enjoy.

“This is a great project for the city,” Johnston said.

The colonnades were erected in 1940 as part of the construction of the original Mississippi River Bridge.