By VICKIE JAMBON, Staff Reporter

HAHNVILLE – As a part of an ongoing effort to curtail flooding in St. Charles Parish, the Parish Council agreed to spend $506,604 to improve a Luling pumping station.

A contract with Civil Construction Contractors Inc. was unanimously approved by the council for work that includes construction and improvements at the Lagatutta Estates Drainage Pump Station and a new access driveway.

“Two new pumps will replace two older pumps,” said St. Charles Parish Public Works Director Gregory E. Bush.

Bush said the two new pumps will be electric primary pumps. They will be able to function on diesel when electricity is not available.

A small, electric, duty pump will also be placed at the pump station, according to Bush.

The duty pump functions in cycles – turning off and on. Its primary purpose is to keep the canal level. “It saves wear and tear on our larger pumps,” said Bush.

Bush said the construction company will also place a bridge-like structure in the canal to connect the pump station to the road.

The aluminized contech span will prevent parish workers from using a resident’s driveway to get to the pump station.

“Before we were going down a resident’s driveway and through his back yard to get to the station,” said Bush.

A generator pad will be placed by the pump station as part of the construction deal. A generator which now sits on the roadside will be relocated to the generator pad.

“This will reduce liability. The generator will not have to sit on the side of the road – which was never an ideal place for it,” said Bush.

Digital Engineering and Imaging Inc, a consulting engineer for the project, reviewed two bids for the construction project.

The engineering company chose Civil Construction because they were the low bidder.

D & O Contractors Inc. bid $540,546 on the project.

Bush said it normally takes six months to one year to complete this type of project.

Civil Construction has promised to complete all work in 240 calendar days, which equates to eight months.

According to Bush, temporary pumps will be placed at the pumping station while the work is taking place.

“When we take the old pumps out, temporary pumps will be positioned. This way pumps will be operating during the hurricane season,” said Bush.