MILO – The fact that the Department of Transportation has solicited bids for Elm Street’s reconstruction is being hailed by residents and motorists who use the heavily traveled Routes 6, 11 and 16.

Bids for the approximately 1-mile project, which has been delayed for more than 10 years, will be opened on June 20.

The state’s preliminary plans for the estimated $2.8 million project will be aired during a public meeting at 6 p.m. June 27, at the Milo Town Hall. This is an opportunity for the public to comment, express concerns and get answers to their questions.

Although a letter to Piscataquis County Commissioners from DOT Commissioner David Cole last month gave municipal officials the impression the project could be bumped once again if the $113 million transportation bond is not approved next week. That won’t be the case, according to Ernie Martin, project manager.

The project will be completed by Aug. 22, 2008, weather permitting, and regardless of the bond passage, Martin said Friday.

“You’ll see a lot of work happen out there in fiscal year ’07-’08,” Martin said. He indicated the confusion resulted because there are two Elm Street projects in the pipeline in Piscataquis County. The other Elm Street project is in Guilford, which is not scheduled to begin this year.

Martin said the concrete subsurface on Routes 6, 11 and 16 will be removed this year, and some drainage work will be done to allow the town to install new sewer mains. The remainder of the roadwork will be done the following year, he noted.

The Elm Street project in Milo will begin at the junction of Route 11 on Main Street and will extend south on Elm Street for approximately 1 mile, ending just south of Davis Street.

“It’s good news but like everything else in the world today, there are tradeoffs,” Milo Town Manager Jane Jones said Friday.

The fact that the project has been delayed over the years will mean the town will have to contribute significantly more for its local share, Jones said. She said a figure of $560,000 has been mentioned but the final tally will be unknown until the bids are submitted.

Local road assistance funds from the state will be used to cover the town’s cost to lessen any impact on property taxes, Jones said. That same pot of money was used in the past to fund the town’s share of the River Side Street project.

“We’re as cost conscious as the MDOT in that we want to get every ounce of productivity out of every tax dollar,” Jones said.