Work may be days away from beginning to rebuild Four Mile Road.

Wednesday, the Clark County Fiscal Court approved a $323,364.45 bid from Hinkle Environmental Services of Richmond to rebuild the road. Hinkle was the only bidder for the project.

The road has been closed for nearly two years after winter storms and flooding caused part of the road to break apart and become impassable.

Clark County Road Supervisor Kevin Wilson said once the contract is signed, Hinkle will have 10 days to prepare and get situated and 90 days to complete the work.

Wilson said he sent nine invitations to bid and six companies picked up the specifications, but Hinkle was the only one to actually visit the site.

“It surprised me we only got one bidder,” Wilson said. “I was expecting it to be around $400,000.”

Calling the project a major undertaking may be an understatement.

“When this gets started, it will be a major upsetting for the people who live down there,” he said. One issue will be getting equipment into the area which exceed weight limits on bridges at either end. Another will be finding a staging area for equipment near the site, he said.

“We’re looking at difficult aspects of getting those pieces of equipment in there,” he said.

The magistrates, though, are concerned about how to pay for the project. The county will be reimbursed by FEMA, which will cover 75 percent of costs. Wilson said that 75 percent may be the original project estimate of $227,000 or the bid. Regardless, it may be years before the FEMA check could arrive.

Clark County Judge-Executive Henry Branham said the county has the cash on hand, but needs to add a line item to the budget so the funds can be allocated.

Wilson said the project should be completed by early summer.