Welcome to the neighborhood.

Late last week, Cannon Toyota and Cannon Honda broke ground on an expansive new dealership location on North Frontage Road. The new location will bring together both of the local dealerships into one location.

The addition of the Cannon lot adds to the automotive sales industry that has found a successful and bustling home along the interstate. And, with the exception of George Carr GMC, all of the brands will now be housed on the stretch of North Frontage Road between the Indiana Avenue and Halls Ferry exits.

The investment Cannon is making into the Vicksburg community is substantial and their belief in the Vicksburg market is good to hear.

Our local automotive dealers have a strong tradition of excellence in Vicksburg and have deep roots. It is good to see Cannon putting down strong roots as well.

But, with the addition of Cannon opening this new lot, North Frontage Road will very likely see an increase in the daily traffic along the already busy two-lane frontage road.

State and federal funds are being poured into the Wisconsin Avenue project, which is bringing a much-needed connector road from North Frontage Road to Wisconsin Avenue. The future road will go right between the new Cannon lot and the Blackburn dealership. But, more is needed.

It is unclear if future plans include a traffic light for what is expected to be a very busy intersection of that new road and North Frontage Road.

And, the stretch of North Frontage Road between Indiana and Halls Ferry, itself easily one of the busiest streets in Vicksburg, is in need of improvements to drainage and resurfacing. It is our hope that work can soon be planned.

Expansion of the South Frontage Road will soon be put out to bids, but it is our hope that road is given the tender loving care it also needs.

“We’re excited about being here,” Cannon Motors of Mississippi CEO Michael Joe Cannon said during Thursday’s groundbreaking. “This corridor is one of the finest in the state of Mississippi.”

With the selection of dealerships and brands from George Carr GMC, Vicksburg Ford, Atwood Chevrolet, Blackburn Nissan and soon the Cannon’s dealerships, we couldn’t agree more.

With a little more attention, Vicksburg’s interstate corridor could be even better.