VIDALIA — The newest expansion of the Vidalia riverwalk has been opened.

The expansion, which was recently opened without official fanfare, adds approximately 1,300 feet to the riverfront walking trail, extending it from its previous southern terminus near the north end of Riverview RV Park to beyond the RV facility.

The extension construction was awarded to Camo Construction in December for a $242,389 bid.

It was funded through a grant from the Louisiana Office of State Parks, and was meant to serve as the starting point for even further extensions of the Bowie Trail Project.

Grants Coordinator Teresa Dennis said the city eventually plans to loop the riverwalk to the top of the Mississippi River levee and connect everything to form a 5.5-mile walking loop.

Mayor Hyram Copeland has previously said the connection to the top of the Mississippi River levee will be done by way of a smaller levee near the Bunge grain elevator.

The loop project will likely have to include the participation of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at some point because the Corps maintains the Mississippi River levees.

The riverwalk project actually served as the first phase of construction on the now significantly developed Vidalia Riverfront, which was at that time a mat field used by the Corps of Engineers.

The riverfront was the original location of the City of Vidalia, and the riverwalk follows the course of the original Carter Street.

The city was moved from the riverfront after the federal government decided in 1938 to build up the Mississippi River levee after a significant flood.