The planned Wilmington Multi-Modal Transportation Center downtown might take longer to complete than anticipated, as bids for construction were more costly than the current project budget, according to Albert Eby, executive director of the Cape Fear Public Transportation Authority.

The budget for the project stands at $2.4 million to finish developing the multi-modal center on 1.5 acres between North Third and Fourth streets and Red Cross and Hanover streets. 

Two bids came in for the project this month -- both higher than the budget -- with one considered a responsive bid, Eby said. That responsive bid put construction at nearly $4 million.

WAVE Transit officials are looking at potential changes to the design and getting a good strategy together to move the project forward, Eby said.

The project is being looked at by engineers and architects to find ways to bring down the cost, he said. Along with looking at options for redesign, WAVE could also consider bidding large portions of the project itself and additional resources for funding the project.

“It will probably be a combination of things to allow us to complete the project,” Eby said.  

In the bid process, WAVE did include as part of the bid package some ways to bring down costs, such as using asphalt surfaces instead of concrete, along with other measures that brought deductions of $550,000, he said.

The center is set to include one WAVE administration office and slips for 11 buses to conduct downtown transfers, as well as an area for passengers and customer service, Eby said. 

Although this last round of bids proved to be higher in cost, Eby said, “everybody is still committed to the project.”

Crews have already completed hazardous materials abatement and demolition at the Neuwirth Building. And the stabilization phase for the project was completed in October, which included adding a new roof to the building. The cost of those two phases totaled about $600,000, which came from state and local funds, he said.

The final phase -- renovation of the Neuwirth Building and construction of the facility -- will use federal funds.

Eby said officials had hoped to have the Wilmington Multi-Modal Transportation facility open by late fall, but redesign and rebid have stalled the project. More about the timing of the project will be known after redesign, he said.