JAY – A Route 4 road reconstruction project is not scheduled to benefit from federal stimulus money this year. That means a 1.1-mile section of road that runs from Bridge Street in Livermore Falls to Pineau Street in Jay is not expected to be done this year.

The Maine Department of Transportation won’t be able to get the bid package out, the contract awarded and everything else needed to be done within the specified 120-day time frame that goes with stimulus funding, DOT Region 3 engineer Mark Hume said.

“The 120-day time limit put the kibosh on it,” Hume said.

However, state Rep. Gary Knight, R-Livermore Falls, told selectmen in that town Monday night, not to give up hope. He said he has been talking to state transportation officials, and they are exploring other options to fund the project.

Jay, Livermore Falls and the Livermore Falls Water District had preliminary design work done in 2003 to replace sewer and water lines when the state rebuilds the road.

The state has had the project on hold since then due to lack of funding.

There is a possibility that more stimulus money could come in, if other states don’t use all the funding slated for them, Hume said.

There also could be a transportation bond facing Maine’s voters in November if it makes it through the legislative process. If it gets to voters and is approved, there could be some money for the project, Hume said. But even if it is approved, the money would not be available this year, he said.

Jay Town Manager Ruth Marden has already eliminated a request for $50,000 in the proposed 2009-10 town budget for the first payment toward debt service for the nearly $700,000 portion of Jay’s share, she said.

If the DOT gets money for the project before next year’s 2010 annual town meeting vote, she said, the request for borrowing money for the sewer line upgrade and a first payment, would need to go before voters at a special town meeting.

Livermore Falls Sewer Department also has some money waiting for the project in the form of a grant and low interest loan awarded in 2004. Since then the cost of that town’s share of the project has risen about $200,000.