Over the bridge in Louisiana, Mississippi residents traveled to try their luck for an instant, life-changing opportunity.

Today’s Powerball Lottery is estimated to be at a record high of $700 million, and could go higher.

That’s sent lots of Mississippians across the river at Vicksburg to Delta, La., to buy lottery tickets, hoping to strike it rich.

Traffic at the Chevron station just off I-20 in Delta was so heavy on Wednesday, Ty Edleston and a few others had to direct traffic in the gas station’s parking lot.

Wednesday’s Powerball Jackpot was at about $500 million and by 1 p.m., customers were lining up outside of the Chevron and the inside line was snaked in between three roped-off sections.

A variety of people over the legal Louisiana gambling age of 21 stood in line.

“It’s been pretty out of hand,” Edleston, who began to direct traffic at 10 a.m. Wednesday morning and expected to see a steady flow of customers until 7 or 8:30 p.m.

Edleston said he was excited for the multi-million dollar prize drawing and will also try his luck by playing numbers he’s guessed. If he were to win, his life would change for the better and he would move to Montana to take care of his son and girlfriend.

Surveying others Mississippians who traveled to Louisiana to try their luck, many said they would use the money to pay off bills and loans, and take care of their families.

Carla Gray and her mother Kathryn Cummings said they wre first time lottery players and were hoping for beginner’s luck.

The strategy Gray used to pick her numbers was a combination of an old fortune cookie and random quick picks. If Gray was lucky enough to win the prize, she’d quit her job and relax.

“I love my job, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t need that extra income for taxes,” Gray said with a laugh. “I hope I win.”

Cummings would donate her winnings to her local and regional churches at Locust Grove in Vicksburg, St. Mary MB and Christ of Kings in Jackson.

Terence Spence of Jackson owns a local plumbing business named “Terence Spence Plumbing” and after getting out of debt and starting a new life, he’ll said he would put his earning to upgrading his business with new equipment and vehicles.

“I’d keep it going,” Spence said. “I’ll upgrade but won’t expand it out.”

For Johnny Moore, winning the $500 million grand prize would be life changing for me. Moore is a regular lottery player and has played his siblings birthdates.

“It’ll change drastically. Being debt free, that’s most people’s dream,” Moore said. “I’ll work for another couple of weeks but I’ll definitely quit [my job]. $400 million, what am I going to work for?”