JAY – The Maine Department of Transportation plans to reconstruct a 1.1-mile section of Route 4 from Bridge Street in Livermore Falls to Pineau Street in Jay if federal stimulus money finds its way to the state.

“If any stimulus money comes in, this project will be one of the first to be done,” said MDOT Region 3 engineer Mark Hume. The MDOT took another look at the project on Jan. 7 and made the decision, he said.

The project has been on hold for about five years due to lack of funding.

If the money comes through, the project would go out to bid in July and start in August, Hume said.

The state’s cost for the project is estimated to be more than $4.3 million.

Besides MDOT’s work, three other entities plan to do upgrades to sewer and water systems along the road.

Jay selectmen authorized Town Manager Ruth Marden and Sewer Department Superintendent Mark Holt on Jan. 12 to start applying for loans to replace the sewer lines along that stretch of road at the same time MDOT does the project.

Holt said it is estimated it will cost about $667,000, at least $200,000 more than the estimated cost four years ago, to do Jay’s portion of the work.

It is estimated to cost $570,000 for the work Livermore Falls Sewer Department plans to do, which is up about $200,000 from an initial estimate. The Sewer Department was awarded a $182,700 grant in 2004 in conjunction with a $223,000 low-interest loan to replace sewer lines, Livermore Falls Sewer Department Superintendent Kent Mitchell previously said.

Jay’s sewer rates are not high enough for the town to receive a grant for the project, Holt said he was told. The rates would have to be up in the $360 to $370 range and the town’s rate is $250 annually now. Selectmen did raise that amount by $40 at their last meeting, to go into effect July 1.

The Livermore Falls Water District’s portion of the upgrade encompasses the entire length of the project in both towns. The district plans to replace water mains among other work estimated at $1.7 million, Superintendent Doug Burdo said. That is up from $840,000 estimated previously.