Flathead Valley Community College is doubling its tennis courts this summer.

College trustees on Tuesday awarded a $251,678.35 contract to LHC Inc. Tuesday to build eight tennis courts east of the Early Childhood Development Center.

The new tennis courts will replace four courts the college must remove to build the Rebecca Chaney Broussard Center for Nursing and Health Sciences in the main area of campus buildings.

College President Jane Karas told trustees that the new site has room to build four more courts in the future.

She said the area also allows amphitheater seating on the grass with better views for spectators. It also has less wind than the current courts.

Karas said that the college came up with the plan with input from the local tennis association, Kalispell Parks and Recreation and both Kalispell high schools. She said everyone involved with tennis was excited about the new expanded courts replacing the old ones built at least 20 years ago.

Parks and Recreation takes care of scheduling use of the facilities by the various groups.

“They pay all the maintenance and upkeep” of the courts, she said.

Although tennis players lose use of the courts during the construction period, Karas said the new courts should be finished in time for a tournament in August. Specifications allow four weeks to complete construction by the end of July.

LHC bid $251,678.35 to pave, seal-coat, stripe, install concrete posts and nets and perimeter fencing. Students in the college’s heavy equipment training program performed all the work to prepare the site for construction.

“That did help save some money,” Karas said. “Quite a bit of money.”

LHC submitted the lone bid for the work. It came in below the architect’s estimate of $277,000.

Trustee Mark Holston commented that it seemed odd that the college received just one bid in these times of reduced construction activity. Karas said the request for bids was advertised in the same manner as other projects for the college.

Contractors requested six packets but only LHC returned a packet within the three and a half weeks allowed for preparation of bids. Work was expected to begin as soon as today, depending on weather conditions.

The college expects to finish the new nursing and health sciences building by March 2013.

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.