Kenosha officials have received good news about the 75th Street reconstruction project.

Ron Bursek, the city’s director of public works, told the Public Works Committee Monday that bids opened last week indicate savings between $300,000 and $500,000 from the original estimate of $6.5 million.

The reconstruction project, between 38th and Seventh avenues, was originally slated for this year and 2010, but the city requested bids to complete the project entirely during this construction season.

Reduced mobilization costs for the contractor and lower prices for steel and road construction materials were cited for the savings.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is contributing $2 million in matching funds.

Bursek said that contribution is capped, meaning all potential savings from reducing the work timeline would go directly to the city.

City officials and aldermen last week discussed using the potential savings from the 75th Street project as startup money for a proposed citywide home improvement loan program.

City officials are expected to meet Thursday to further discuss the project and the submitted bids.

The city hopes to get a contract approved next month and start work on April 22.

Bursek said the City Council will have to approve the contract and move the 2010 costs to this year in the city’s Capital Improvement Plan.

Some additional costs could also be generated as work gets under way.

“A road of this age, about 80 years old, may have some contingency costs that we want to identify,” Bursek said.

Accelerating the construction process also means some logistic considerations.

Bursek said early work will focus on the eastern end of the road due to difficulties with rerouting traffic near the railroad tracks and to avoid having construction in front of Southport Elementary School, 723 76th St., in the fall.

The city plans to have a public meeting on the project before reconstruction begins.