More than just a bike lane, local cyclists will soon have a dedicated, off-road bike path that will take them underneath the I-29 overpass to the Swiftel Center and other east Brookings locations.

City councilors last week awarded a contract for Brookings' bike trail project. The city for several years has been planning to construct a new bike path extension underneath and east of Interstate 29. The path will serve as an offroad transportation route to locations on the east side of town, such as the business park, Swiftel Center and Larson Ice Center.

With a bid of nearly $608,000, Rounds Construction Co. came in as the lowest base bidder and was awarded the contract last Tuesday.

According to the Jan. 26 city council packet, "the bike path project includes boardwalk, new retaining wall under the I-29 overpass , and hard-surface bike path where the contractor could choose between asphalt and concrete."

Two grants awarded to Brookings through the state Department of Transportation provided about $589,000 for the work, and a match requires the city to pay approximately $141,000.

Bid letting for the project was held on Jan. 12, with bids coming from five companies.

The city had also requested two bid alternates to enhance the bike trail system with paths through McCrory Gardens. One alternate was for a trail in the McCrory Gardens Arboretum, and the other was for a connecting trail through the gardens from 20th Avenue to 22nd Avenue. Neither of the two options was awarded last week.

City Engineer Jackie Lanning said accepting the alternate bids would send the project over budget, raising total costs higher than the $725,000 set aside. Besides construction expenses, that figure must also cover engineering fees and project contingency.

Lanning noted that South Dakota State University was not able to fund the alternatives either. The lowest bids put the cost for that extra work at about $177,000.

A number of factors have delayed the bike trail expansion for years. They include grant changes, acquiring easements , working around wetland issues and getting design approval from the state.

Now that a contract has been awarded, Lanning said the project should be completed in the 2010 construction season .

Contact Jill Fier at jfier@brookingsregister .com.