LONDON: Vidalia officials have broken ground on a $39 million port facility. Port of Vidalia Director Wyly Gilfoil tells The Natchez Democrat the 145-acre port should be open for business by mid-2017, and when the current phase of construction is underway, the city will begin the process of permitting for the next phase.
The city has previously built an access road from the Vidalia Industrial Park — which is across Louisiana 131 from the port site — to the Mississippi River. Thursday’s groundbreaking was to mark the kickoff of the phase that would make the port operational, adding a conveyer system and barge loading facility meant to handle bulk dry products. The city is currently awaiting bids for the work.