QUILCENE — Construction of a Jefferson County Public Utility District water system in the U.S. Highway 101 commercial core is expected to begin in mid-June, a utility district official says.

“It’s finally getting rolling there,” PUD General Manager Jim Parker said of the project more than 10 years in the making.

The PUD commissioners opened construction bids from three companies last week, and Lydel Construction Inc. of Poulsbo is the apparent low bidder on the project to lay about 2,000 feet of water pipeline.

Lydel’s bid came in at $432,695.86, compared with two others at $477,944 and $550,501. Those bids came from Northern Con Ag of Mill Creek and Primo Construction of Carlsborg, respectively.

The PUD commissioners are expected to award the work contract at their May 17 meeting.

State grants

Grants totaling about $500,000 from the state and county will help cover project expenses, Parker said, including a $300,000 grant from the state Department of Health to consolidate the water system, and a $200,000 grant from the Jefferson County’s Community Infrastructure Fund.