[4/6/04]Parts of U.S. 61 South will be closed intermittently beginning today as a contractor for Entergy Mississippi installs new poles and lines.

Cheryl Comans, Entergy customer relations manager for this area, said the work began at the South Vicksburg Substation near Mattingly Road at about 7 a.m. when crews from Chicot Contracting Inc. of Arkansas arrived at the scene.

“We will be extending a circuit south down (U.S.) 61 for about two miles,” Comans said.

From the South Vicksburg Substation, work will be along the west side of the highway to Rouse Polymerics International Inc., where the work will switch to the east side of the highway. The new line will switch back to the west side of the road at Jubilee Food Store and continue south to near Magnolia Estates.

Comans said motorists traveling north and south will be merged into one lane each while the work continues. She said it is expected to take about a month.

Comans said the only time workers will have to close both lanes is when they have to string wires across the highway, but that will be for brief periods.

“This will allow us to serve more customers along (U.S.) 61 and to improve the service to people along Redbone Road,” she said, explaining the new line will lighten the load on the existing line in that area.