VIDALIA — In the slow creep toward the construction of the Vidalia Port, wheels — and dirt — could soon begin turning.

Concordia Parish Economic Development Director Heather Malone said all that remains for construction to start is for the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development to let the project. Letting the project means the LaDOTD will make it available for bid.

“If it was up to us, we would have let it already,” Malone said.

“If we began construction next month, our hope is when the water goes down, we will be ready for construction. The low water is what construction is really going to be contingent on.”

Vidalia Port Director Wyly Gilfoil said the LaDOTD should start advertising for bids in the coming week, and the advertisement period will last for 30 days.

The LaDOTD directs the bid advertising because it oversees some of the funding associated with the slackwater port project, which is near the Vidalia Industrial Park.

Once the bids are received and reviewed, they can be awarded and construction for the first phase of construction can be completed.

The first phase of construction will include the extension of an access road, the construction of a spur levee to the Mississippi River, a concrete ramp to the river and a working pad with a truck turnaround area. Part of the access road has previously been constructed.

And while the first phase of construction is the focus at the moment, Malone said a review of the funding shows the project has enough to start its second phase.

“All of this is based on estimates, but we estimate that we would have approximately $5.5 million to get started on phase II,” Malone said. “That would include digging the actual slackwater slip and putting in an additional dock, but a lot of that would be contingent on the need of the industry using that (port).”

Gilfoil said even though the port has not been constructed, he is seeing quite a bit of project interest.

“All of the folks (Malone) has introduced me to have talked about potential use, so we are pretty pumped about it,” he said.

Gilfoil said the port is looking at moving half a million tons of product annually when it opens.

The first phase of the port could be completed and fully operational by the first quarter of 2015 if all environmental factors work in favor of construction, Gilfoil said.

The port and industrial park development project has approximately $11.9 million in state funding, $2.7 million in federal funding and $3 million in local funding dedicated to it, Malone said.