VIDALIA, La. – It’s out with the old and in with the new – at least where Vidalia’s Mississippi River gauge is concerned. Camo Construction crews finished installing a new digital river gauge Friday on the Vidalia side of the river just north of the river bridge, next to the old gauge. The work was done as part of the second phase of a $45 million riverfront development called Vidalia Landing. Sidney Murray Jr., Riverfront Authority president, said he has received many calls from citizens concerned that the old gauge, a local landmark, would be taken down and not replaced.

&uot;I told them we weren’t going to do anything like that – just improve on it. But people were concerned. Everybody who comes across that bridge watches that gauge,&uot; Murray said. He added that the old gauge is showing signs of age and will be torn down, although he does not know when.

Despite such concerns, there are many advantages to the new gauge, Murray said. It is easy to update and can be seen at night, unlike the old gauge, which is not lighted and must be changed by hand.

&uot;Updating (the new sign) is just a matter of punching a few buttons,&uot; said Huey Richmond, Vidalia street supervisor, who changes the sign each morning and learned Tuesday morning how to program the new gauge.

There is one problem, however: Although the new gauge’s numbers are bright red and big enough to be seen from the bridge, they cannot easily be seen when the sun shines directly on the sign.

Murray planned to meet with project architects Tuesday to see how the gauge can be changed to make it easier to read.

&uot;It may involve changing the color of the lights,&uot; he said. &uot;We’ll have to make a few adjustments.&uot;

The second phase of the Vidalia Landing development will also include an amphitheater, a fountain, restrooms, landscaping and shaded seating. When completed, the development is also expected to include condominiums, recreational fields and other attractions. An RV park south of the Mississippi River bridge opened last month.