By Chris Post / Editor-In-Chief

A planned sidewalk improvement project near College and Miami streets will likely be delayed until 2027 after potential contractors raised concerns about the city’s original construction timeline.

Marshall City Administrator J.D. Kehrman told the City Council Monday that the city had planned to open bids for the Transportation Alternatives Program project but received feedback that the construction window was too short.

The project is funded through a Missouri Department of Transportation TAP grant. The grant award was based on an estimated project cost of $363,900.

MoDOT would fund 75% of the project, or $272,925, while the city would provide a 25% local match of $90,975, Kehrman said in a subsequent interview.

The final project cost could increase once bids are awarded, pending MoDOT approval. Kehrman said, however, it is unlikely the 75/25 funding formula would change.

At Monday’s meeting, Kehrman said the city is seeking permission to extend the project timeline by about 30 days. That would push completion into June 2027.

City officials also hope the longer timeline will attract more bidders.

Kehrman said MoDOT requires contractors to be on an approved bidder list. Several local companies that had expressed interest in the project were not currently registered.

Moving the bid opening would give those contractors additional time to complete the MoDOT approval process.

The city also needs enough qualified bids before the project can be awarded.

Kehrman told the council he believed MoDOT requires at least four bids for the project.

Council members later questioned when construction would begin.

Kehrman said the original plan called for work to begin in May with a roughly 30-day construction window. The revised schedule could allow approximately 60 days for construction instead.

City officials said the shorter construction period may have discouraged some contractors from submitting bids.

The project is intended to improve sidewalks in the area around College and Miami streets.

Exact construction dates will depend on the revised bidding process and MoDOT approval.