New Bids for Lincoln Avenue Bridge Project

Improvements to the Lincoln Avenue Bridge, one of the city’s major projects this year, could be delayed a month after the bids for the project came back higher than the available funding.

The City Council agreed to eliminate ornamental urns and pedestals, a computerized irrigation controller and a brick roadway surface from the plans to cut costs. The city will seek new bids.

The revised plan should bring bid proposals closer to the $380,000 set aside for the project, Public Works Director Mark Christoffels told the council. There were four initial bids, each about double the budgeted amount.

The bridge work is part of the city’s $6.5-million project to improve bustling Lincoln Avenue. The work, including repaving, is expected to be completed by July.