Blaine Company employee Cuny Stone, of Jonesville, La., warns motorists along U.S. 61 just south of Port Gibson Wednesday morning about the new flow of traffic.(Brian Loden The Vicksburg Post)

[9/30/04]PORT GIBSON Drivers along U.S. 61 between Fayette and Port Gibson will see lots of orange caution cones during the next year.

The Mississippi Department of Transportation began Wednesday switching a 13-mile stretch of two-way traffic onto different lanes so that a $22.8 million four-lane highway can be completed, spokesman Carrie Adams said.

The switch will be from the old lanes of U.S. 61 to the newly completed northbound lanes of U.S. 61.

Construction of the southbound lanes is scheduled to be completed in November 2005, Adams said. About 10,500 cars travel on the road in Claiborne and Jefferson counties in the course of a day.

“We ask motorists to be aware of the traffic changes,” said district engineer Walter Lyons. “Slowing down and being observant will increase both the safety of the workers and the motorists.”

All four lanes will be open for short distances at the new Mississippi 522 interchange and areas just south of Lorman.

The construction on U.S. 61 is a continuation of work that saw that section from Yokena, in Warren County, to Claiborne County four-laned beginning in 1993.