Cole County public works officials say work on the Business 50 West expansion project in Apache Flats will likely begin in February, weather permitting.
The County Commission opened bids for the project last month, and Don Schneiders Excavating Company was the low bidder. The commission is expected to award this project to the company at its Wednesday meeting.
The $3.6 million project is the largest road project ever undertaken by the county.
Work will start at the end of state maintenance west of the intersection of Business 50 and Country Club Drive and finish at the St. Martin's city limits, about 800 feet west of Wrens Parkway.
The work, which will encompass just more than two miles, will include a three-lane roadway with curb and gutter along with sidewalks adjacent to the roadway. Existing roadway ditches will be relocated or enclosed as needed to accommodate the roadway drainage.
The plan is to have all the work done by the end of the year.
The project is being paid for through the county's half-cent capital improvement sales tax.
Before the project begins, a public meeting to discuss the project in more detail will be held. A representative from the contractor will be present at the meeting, which has yet to be scheduled.