A project to expand Highway 84 in Lawrence County to four lanesis almost finished.

Project engineer Jane Bass said the 5.5 miles of newlyfour-laned highway starting at the Lincoln-Lawrence County linewill be open for traffic Tuesday.

“The opening of this roadway should allow four-lane traffic inLawrence County from the Lincoln-Lawrence County line to the SilverCreek bypass project,” said District Seven Engineer DarrellBroome.

The finished project connects other four-lane sections so thatmotorists can drive on four-lane roads all the way from Natchez toMonticello. Highway 84 is all four-lane in Lincoln County.

Construction on the Lawrence County project began in March of2005. Bass said construction costs were around $14 million.

“That’s for paving and reconstruction of the right lanes,” shesaid.

Broome said the newness of the traffic situation shouldencourage drivers to stay alert even if they’re familiar with theroadways.

“Motorists should be advised to pay attention to the signs andto pay special attention at all local road crossings throughout thesection of roadway,” he said.

While the roads are drivable, there will still be lane closuresthrough the end of September as the finishing touches are being puton the highway, officials said.

“Motorists should continue to be on the lookout for laneclosures,” Broome said.

Bass said the project should be finished by the end ofSeptember.

“We’ve still got about a month worth of work,” said Bass. “Westill have to overlay the existing travel lane. People need to beaware that there will still be some lanes closed.”

The completion of the project will extend the four-lane corridoron Highway 84 from Natchez to just east of Monticello. The overallHighway 84 project is part of a legislative act to improve morethan 1,800 miles of Mississippi roadways.