Pineville is accepting bids through September 25 for the Huffman Creek pump station and outfall project. Initially granted state funding assistance through federal mitigation funds in May 2021, the project first went to bids last November. The only offer received was higher than expected.

 

The city rejected it, giving Pan American Engineers the opportunity to study the project dimensions, including pump capacity, then rebid.

Most of the cost of the work is being funded by Louisiana Water Initiatives grant. Estimated cost is about $8.5 million.

Upgrading the station and its capabilities has been on the city agenda since the wrath of Hurricane Gustav.

(That storm formed this week in 2008, eventually inundating Louisiana September 1-3. How much did it rain? A NOAA recap said Larto Lake reporting station received 21 inches as Gustav chugged through Central Louisiana.)

The Huffman bid specifications call for a new pump station (near a remaining pumphouse containing two 50,000 gpm pumps) with enlarged sump (catch basin) and two new 50,000 gpm pumps, auxiliary power, and two parallel discharge penstocks isolating flow over the levee and eventually into the Red River.

Additionally a 1.2-acre stormwater retention pond will be built near Jones Street upstream of Cottingham Expressway.