LEWISTON – Fear that part of the Wal-Mart distribution center project will get caught up in politics has city leaders on alert.

Money needed to relocate Plourde Parkway to make way for the super retailer’s Lewiston warehouse is tied up in a bond package stuck in the Legislature’s Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee.

Losing that money could delay the Plourde Parkway relocation, and that could cost the city the project, according to Assistant City Administrator Phil Nadeau.

“It would likely mean that the project could not get done,” Nadeau said. “Wal-Mart has invested a lot of money working under the assumption that all the necessary pieces would get done. If it doesn’t, it places our agreement in jeopardy.”

Plourde Parkway runs along the south side of the Wal-Mart project. The state agreed to relocate the road’s intersection with River Road to give Wal-Mart room to build the warehouse. The road project is expected to cost about $2 million.

The company is scheduled to begin construction on the 485,000-square-foot food warehouse in April 2004 and to finish in August 2005.

“If Wal-Mart’s intention is to break ground in the next building season, those road improvements have to be well under way,” Nadeau said.

The money is included in a $93.8 million bond bill that needs approval by both the House and the Senate by September to be put on the statewide ballot in November.

In June, members of the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee split 6-5 on the proposal along party lines. Republican members hope to put an $80 million cap on the bond. Democrats favor a $110 million cap.

“We’re afraid that politics is going to jeopardize getting that bond to the voters,” Nadeau said.

[email protected]