TUPELO, Miss. (AP) The lowest bid to build a bridge over the Natchez Trace Parkway came in $1.4 million higher than expected.

Officials told the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal that members of the Major Thoroughfare Committee would discuss the bids on Oct. 8 before taking a proposal to the city council.

The bridge is part of the city’s northern loop road project.

Three companies submitted bids with the lowest coming in at $7.4 million from Madison-based Key Constructors. The five-lane, 320-ft. (97.5 m) bridge had been estimated to cost $6 million during an analysis done nearly two years ago.

The Major Thoroughfare Program is funded by a 10-mill property tax.

The road commonly is called the northern loop and must cross both the Natchez Trace and U.S. Highway 78.

The Mississippi Department of Transportation also must authorize the deal because the project will receive federal funds administered by the state.

If all goes as planned, construction of the bridge could begin by mid- to late November. The project is expected to take 16 months.

The bridge over U.S. 78 could start later this year or early next year.

The entire northern loop is 4.5 mi. (7.2 km) long and paid mostly through revenues generated by the Major Thoroughfare tax levy.

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