VIDALIA — The first phase of the new Vidalia marina could be open to the public within four to six weeks, but the construction won’t likely be over until mid-summer, Mayor Hyram Copeland said.

The construction crew should start rebuilding the part of the riverwalk that they had to remove for the construction within the next couple of weeks, Copeland said.

But finishing the first phase will depend on the level of the water on the Mississippi River, which needs to be significantly lower than its current stage.

“It’s probably going to be middle or late summer before they can extend (the boat ramp) to where it needs to be extended for our plans,” Copeland said.

The marina site is located on the south end of the riverfront.

The first phase of the project, which will be completed at a cost of $345,000, was to widen an existing parking lot on the south end of the riverfront and lower a portion of the riverwalk for easier access to the boat ramp.

That phase of construction also included widening the existing southern riverfront boat ramp and making it more accessible from the road.

Work on that phase began in October after several years of planning.

Funding for the first phase of the marina project was given by an act of Congress and was administered by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

The second phase of the marina’s construction will be to build a docking station for boats that rises and falls with the level of the river.

A wave alternator, which will be used to block disturbances to the water and floating debris headed for the marina, will also be built to the north of the marina during the second phase of construction.

A proposed third phase will see more docking space built on the riverfront.

When completed, the marina will provide a docking point for non-commercial watercraft between Vicksburg and Baton Rouge.