The City of Troy has awarded the bid that will clear the municipal runway for expansion, and construction should begin within the month.

The Troy City Council voted earlier this week to allow Carter’s Construction Service, of Andalusia, the bid for the official project.

Out of 12 companies, Carter’s was the lowest bidder, asking $203,220 for the project, which will be funded predominately by federal funds.

In this phase of construction, Lunsford said the land will be cleared for the runway’s 1,500-foot extension.

But, since the bids for construction were much lower than the $432,000 grant awarded by the Federal Aviation Administration, Lunsford said the city has amended the grant application to include funding for the runway’s final design and the topographical survey after the clearing is complete.

With bids lower than the grant, the project may be on a faster timeline to completion than the city originally planned.

“We had though the final design would be in next year’s funding, but we’re going to be able to get it all this year,” Lunsford said.

Before the beginning of the next fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1, Lunsford said the final designs should be in place.

And, that will leave only the funding to complete building in the next budget.

“The project has been approved as high priority, and we should be able to go to bid before the end of this fiscal year,” Lunsford said.

The project, once complete, will extend the runway from 5,000 feet to 6,500 feet, in an effort to increase economic development efforts and expand transportation abilities.

The clearing will avoid wet land areas and not pass the fence line that runs by Oak Grove Church.