VIDALIA — Port of Vidalia officials say the port is on pace to be operational mid-2018.

The Vidalia Board of Aldermen last week approved distribution of a Vidalia electrical line from D.A. Biglane Road to the point at which the proposed truck turnaround would be at the port. Linetec Services of Alexandria had the low bid at $203,086.28.

Port of Vidalia Director Wyly Gilfoil said the line distribution would take approximately 60 days. Gilfoil said a water line has already been extended from Louisiana 131 down to the end of the truck turnaround.

Gilfoil said officials hope to have the conveyor system out for bid next month. The conveyor would take about a year to complete, he said.

The conveyor will move the dry goods out into the channel, where a T-dock will be present, Gilfoil said. Materials will be brought in for the conveyor to be constructed on site.

Gilfoil said if everything goes according to plan, the port should be operational mid-2018.

The Port of Vidalia is a $40 million, 145-acre project, which is approximately 80-percent grant funded.

The port project has been ongoing since 1960, but semi-yearly progress did not begin until 1995.