Riley County commissioners opened bids for the long-discussed McDowell Creek Road improvement project Monday morning. The road is located south of Manhattan off Kansas Highway 177 and county public works director Leon Hobson has said previously that improvements will include wider shoulders, better drainage and other safety additions.
Work will focus on the first three miles of the road south of K-177.
The most expensive bid came from Leavenworth Excavating & Equipment Company of Leavenworth for $7.3 million, while both Ebert Construction of Wamego and Amino Brothers of Kansas City, Kan., both bid $6.7 million for the project.
The county’s engineer’s cost estimate was done by Olsen & Associates and priced the project at $6 million.
Commissioners approved the bids to staff for further evaluation.
