A committee designed to oversee the construction on State Street met Monday night to hammer out final proposals for the summer construction of the 500 and 600 blocks of the street.
Mary Carbine, central business improvement district executive director, said the Speedway Construction placed the lowest bid for next summer's planned construction. She said historically another contractor has taken care of reconstruction on the street, but this time around, Speedway offered the lowest bid.
In fact, City Council President Mike Verveer said the plan came in $2 million under budget, which frees up the city to do other little projects in the area, such as place water fountains in State Street parks. He also said the plan is federally funded.
Still, Carbine noted that although construction is necessary, it is going to provide some headaches. The first phase is set to begin in late March - while school is still in session - and end before the fall 2008 semester starts.
She said the street needs a face lift"" but is ""going to look pretty darn torn up,"" adding that 100-year-old sewers dwell beneath the street and will take some deep digging to get to.
Also proposed at the meeting was making Gilman Street a two-way.
