MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) The lone bid on a project to start widening and resurfacing Interstate 65 through Montgomery this fall has been rejected because the offer was more than $100 million above the state’s estimates, Alabama transportation director Joe McInnes said Sept. 22.

A dozen contractors had requested plans, but the only bid was a $167.5 million three-way joint venture proposal from Wiregrass Construction Co. of Ariton, R.R. Dawson Bridge Co. of Bessemer and C.W. Roberts Contracting of Hosford, Fla.

The project would widen five miles of I-65 from four lanes to six lanes, and resurface the original concrete roadbed from the bridge over Catoma Creek near the U.S. 80 intersection to the I-65 bridge over the Alabama River.

The project included a $25,000 per day incentive for early completion, measures to minimize the impact of construction on travelers as well as flexibility in traffic handling and construction sequencing.

Transportation officials said they’re considering whether to seek new bids, break the project into smaller phases or move forward with different plans.

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