This time around, is the Meadowcreek Parkway on track for real?

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) announced that nine companies have bid on the Albemarle County portion of the MCP contract. The lowest bidder appears to be Faulconer Construction Company in Charlottesville with $11,782,035.81. The bids ranged from $11.8 million to $17.2 million. The bids will be reviewed by VDOT and analyzed to see if they conform to the Engineer’s Estimate. The process may take several days.

Once the winning bid is vetted, it will be presented to the Commonwealth Transportation Board on December 18. Construction of the county's piece of the parkway—1.4-mile, two-lane road from Rio Road south to the city limits at Melbourne Road—could begin as early as February if all goes according to plan.

Bids for the construction of the city’s portion will be advertised in early 2009.

A list of all bidders can be found here. Click on the December 5 bid date.