VIDALIA — Millions of dollars in capital outlay funds are on their way to Concordia Parish and the surrounding area.

Signed into law July 10 by Gov. Bobby Jindal, the state capital outlay bill designates $1.5 million for planning and construction of the El Camino East-West corridor, which in Louisiana runs along U.S. 84.

One of the goals of the El Camino Corridor Commission is to see U.S. 84 four-laned all the way through Louisiana.

“It is a huge bonus for any type of development to come through here to have a four-lane through our area,” Concordia Economic Director Heather Malone said. “It will ease the traffic congestion, make traffic flow more easily and — looking at the bigger picture — it is going to bring commerce through this whole state.”

The bill also designates $1,395,000 for Ferriday downtown revitalization, planning and construction.

That money will be used for the construction of a downtown farmer’s market, a project that has been in the works for several years, Mayor Glen McGlothin said.

There had been some confusion about whether or not the funding approval for the market project had come through before, but it had not until this year, McGlothin said.

“Now that we’ve got the approval, we will put out our plans for bid at the end of the month,” he said.

The City of Vidalia was appropriated $750,000 for planning and construction at the Vidalia Industrial Park, and $1.1 million for the construction of the emergency shelter on the Vidalia riverfront.

The riverfront appropriation was not for new work, but rather was a continuation of appropriations for the storm shelter that was built into the Vidalia Conference and Convention Center, Mayor Hyram Copeland said.

Other appropriations included $90,000 for the replacement of the air conditioner at the Old Courthouse in Vidalia and $1,225,000 to the Louisiana Delta Music Museum for planning and construction.