Agreement has been reached on the price to be paid for the last parcel of private land being purchased for the new bridge over the Yazoo River at Redwood.

Work on the project has already begun through a &#8220quick take” procedure employed by the Mississippi Department of Transportation.

Attorneys in the case confirmed the settlement, but would not disclose the price pending approval of the deal in court.

MDOT filed the case in February 2005 against members of the Fowler family of Vicksburg and Shannon Farms Inc., seeking about 12 acres of land bordering the west side of U.S. 61 North just north of the existing bridge.

A new high-arch bridge is being built west of the existing 1950 bridge. When it opens, the old bridge will be closed and removed. Eventually, there will be a four-lane crossing of the Yazoo.

The case was heard by Warren County Court Judge Johnny Price, acting as the judge of the court of eminent domain, in September 2005. After Price had ruled taking the land complied with the law requiring it be for a public use, a jury was selected to decide how much the Fowlers and Shannon Farms would be paid.

During the testimony, Price found problems with the appraisers and the two sides agreed to a mistrial. A new trial date was not set at that time, but it was scheduled to begin Wednesday, more than a year later.

Gerald Braddock, a Vicksburg attorney representing MDOT, said Wednesday the two sides had reached an agreement and the trial was canceled.

&#8220They reached an agreement the day before yesterday,” Braddock said, indicating the agreement was reached Monday. He also said he will prepare the order for Price’s signature and it would probably be filed later this week.

&#8220We finally reached (an agreement) on a figure more in line with what the property is worth than their initial offer,” said Wren Way, the attorney for the Fowlers.

In 1993, the Fowlers agreed to sell more than 1,000 acres of land in the same area to James R. Belisle and Multi Gaming Management Inc. for development for a site for a floating casino. At the time, the agreed price was $8,000 per acre or $8 million. When the deal feel through, the Fowlers eventually regained control of the land.

When in 2003 MDOT decided to build a new Yazoo River bridge, the agency offered the Fowlers $1,200 per acre for 11.8 acres. MDOT also offered the family $937.50 per acre for a parcel containing 0.16 acre.

The Fowler position was that land worth $8,000 per acre 13 years ago could not have fallen in value to $1,200 per acre.

Key Constructors of Madison started work in September building the first two lanes of the proposed four-lane structure. MDOT officials said at the time traffic should be using those lanes in late 2008. The project is expected to cost $32.7 million.