Southern District Transportation Commissioner Wayne Brown saidFriday that more $400,000 in federal money for a downtownBrookhaven paving project is being withheld while officials workthrough funding issues at the state level.

Brown offered the update following a Friday morning tour of thecity with Mayor Bob Massengill. The commissioner said the city’spaving plans are under review by the Mississippi Department ofTransportation.

“It is certainly my hope to release some or all of it by thetime the plan review is completed,” Brown said.

Brown mentioned a meeting later this month during whichofficials could act on the funding issues.

“There’s several desperate needs,” Brown said. “We have two orthree cities that are in desperate need like Brookhaven.”

While traveling through the downtown area targeted for thepaving project, Brown voiced concerns about some street conditions.Citing Cherokee Street, he said some streets appear to be”flirting” with structural problems and said they needed to beaddressed.

“Plus, it’s not a good image for the city,” Brown said.

Brown and Massengill also discussed a lighting project for theI-55 interchange at Brookway Boulevard. The mayor indicated theinterchange was tops on the city’s list but that he would also liketo eventually see the interchanges on Highway 84 and on UnionStreet Extension lighted as well.

“I sure hope we can make that lighting work,” Brown said.

Complimenting the city on tree-planting on the Boulevard andelsewhere, Brown touted the impact that and lighted interchangeshave on encouraging motorists to stop in a community.

“That makes a difference,” Brown said.

For the lighting project, Brown cited the possibility of usingpart of $10 million in federal funding designated formunicipalities for street purposes.

“That’s some of the most flexible federal funding we get,” hesaid.

That flexibility, however, is also prompting state officials toconsider using some of it to cover other project costs as MDOTcopes with a reduction in state funding.

Also on Brookway Boulevard, Massengill pointed out concerns withtraffic backup at the Highway 51 intersection. The mayor focusedhis comments on traffic in the eastbound turn lane from theboulevard onto Highway 51 and the congestion it causes.

“It really backs up from probably from 11:30 to 1:30 and in thelate afternoons,” Massengill said.

Brown suggested the possibility of a double turn lane at theintersection.

Discussing other street-paving needs, Brown compared timelypaving to painting a house. He said it keeps the street lookinggood and in good shape.

“If you do that, you’ll always have a good paint job and nostructural damage,” Brown said.