VIDALIA — After bids for a riverfront flood control project came in lower than the amount of state funds available, the Town of Vidalia will use the extra funds to add more pumps to improve the project’s efficiency.

The Louisiana Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness initially offered the town $500,000 for a gate and pump system, but the Camo Construction bid came in at $318,476.

Bryant Hammett & Associates project manager Guy Murray said the town had anticipated it designed a system that would cost approximately $500,000.

Since the bid came in $181,552 lower, Murray said the town would attempt to add two pumps to the gate and pump system on Front Street. The addition brings the total pumps up to five.

“We can make the project a little better,” Murray said. “More pumps would lead to better pumping capacity, which will clear the road quicker.”

Murray said the town is in the process of doing cost estimates for two additional pumps.

The project would install a permanent pump and gate system along Front Street on the Vidalia Riverfront, so the town would not have the expense of installing temporary emergency equipment each time the river gets into flood stage.

The system is designed to handle most storms. For example, it would have been adequate for the Mississippi River crest during June, which was more than 7 feet above flood stage.

The system would be mostly underground. The only item above ground would be the control monitors.