JAY — Construction on a 1.1 mile stretch of Route 4 in downtown Jay and Livermore Falls is expected to begin by May 1.

Maine Department of Transportation awarded the contract on Monday to Pratt & Sons Inc. of Mechanic Falls, Maine Department of Transportation resident engineer Gary Trussell said Wednesday.

Pratt was the low bidder on the project at $6.3 million, he said.

There were four contractors that bid on the project.

K & K Excavation Inc. of Turner bid $6.58 million. RJ Grondin & Sons of Gorham bid $6.8 million and Pike Industries of Lewiston bid $7.86 million, Trussell said.

There will be a preconstruction meeting in a couple of weeks, he said. A field office will be set up in the area, possibly at Otis Ventures, the former Wausau Paper mill.

“There is still a lot of work to be done on the project, Trussell said.

Construction is expected to begin by the first of May, he said. The project completion date is Oct. 26, 2012.

All drainage is expected to be completed this year. There are more than 100 manholes and catch basins, Trussell said.

The project includes full construction on Route 4 from Bridge Street in Livermore Falls to Pineau Street in Jay.

Livermore Falls and Jay sewer departments will have aging sewer lines replaced during that project and the Livermore Falls Water District will have water lines replaced.

Granite curbing will be installed on both sides of the road. Several retaining walls will be installed using Redi-Scapes, a precast, concrete product that’s like a rustic stone, Trussell said.

“It is a nice looking wall,” he said.

The travel lanes will be about 24 feet wide, with some 4-foot shoulders, some 6 ½-foot shoulders and in one area, 12-foot shoulders.

Trussell said that after the April preconstruction meeting he’ll know where the contractors plan to start on the road.

One lane of traffic will be maintained at all times, he said.

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