NATCHEZ — In a quick and sparsely attended meeting, City Engineer David Gardner updated the public on what’s to come in the North Natchez Drainage Project.

The board of aldermen recently voted to proceed with the drainage project with the $2.5 million the city has been appropriated.

A portion of North Canal Street, which is the collecting point for North Natchez, was fixed in 2002.

The sections of the city that will receive new and improved piping are:

Canal Street, which includes Monroe and Madison streets

Madison Street from Canal to North Wall streets

North Wall Street from Madison to Oak streets

Oak Street from North Wall to Oak Court

While an entire third phase of the project still needs new drainage — including Elm, Pearl and Walworth streets and Buckner’s Alley, Gardner said he is optimistic the second phase will improve the areas that have not received funding.

“I wish I could go further, but that’s as far as we can afford to go or the moment,” he said.

One of the bigger problems with the drainage in North Natchez is that water collects in almost a basin-like area between Union Street and the river.

Gardner said by improving drainage in the phase two areas, water will not collect in the large ditch behind the Sunshine Shelter for such a long period of time, and the water can move along quicker.

Having improved drainage in the second phase will allow for easier adaptation and expansion in the future to the third phase.

“It’s going to be a brand new system and a system we can build on in the future,” he said.

Through July and August, Gardner said the city is going to work on getting rights-of-way to be able to reach the existing drains.

He said he hopes to let out bids in September or October and have the project begin this fall.

The first phase of the project was funded primarily through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Section 592 project.

Gardner said, however, federal funds might be the way to get funds for the third phase.

He said a successful second-phase project will certainly help in attaining funds for the final phase.

Approximately seven people attended the meeting, three of which were North Natchez residents.