A major Kalispell sewer project may cost $4.7 million less than expected.

The price tag for the West Side Interceptor price tag has dropped from $18.9 million to $14.2 million, according to a presentation to the Kalispell City Council by the Public Works Department.

The city was able to acquire several tracts of land for cheaper than the appraised price and also will be able to move forward without four lift station upgrades that would have totaled more than $2.5 million.

Public Works Director Susie Turner and City Engineer Keith Haskins briefed the council on the project, covering negotiations for land acquisitions and early construction phases as well as the future work.

The West Side Interceptor is a 7.2-mile relief line that would allow continued development in northwest Kalispell without exhausting the city’s main sewer line capacity.

Construction is expected to reach full swing in spring 2018.

“Now that we have the route determined, we can start working through the negotiations and determine what we need to move forward with the project,” Haskins said.

The pipeline and casing that will cross under the Kalispell U.S. 93 bypass were completed last year before construction began on the bypass. The city is still working to acquire easements and tracts along the entire route projected for the sewer line.

The West Side Interceptor project began in 2008 when the city identified a need to alleviate pressure in the sewer system due to increased development in north and west Kalispell. The Public Works Department officially began designing and engineering the project in 2014.

The first phase alone was expected to cost about $10.4 million. That cost has dropped to $8.7 million.

One of the biggest challenges is finding a way to fund land acquisitions, engineering and construction costs.

After working through several options, Robert Peccia and Associates on Monday recommended funding the interceptor through one of Montana’s State Revolving Fund loan programs for water-pollution-control projects.

The city still has to compile a priority list survey and apply for the grant. Turner said the city could pay the loan back using future impact fees.

The city commissioned Peccia in 2014 to complete much of the initial work on the project. That included finding a preferred route for the interceptor project and approaching property owners and residents about either buying land or updating them about the upcoming construction project.

While the majority of homeowners had been notified, according to Public Works and Peccia consultant Ryan Mitchell, two homeowners said differently during Monday’s meeting.

“We were never notified, ever,” said Terry Smith, president of the West View Drive Homeowners Association near Two Mile Drive. “”As a private homeowner, ethically, morally, it really felt that you owed us at least that.”

Mitchell said Peccia hadn’t realized that the project crossed over the West View Drive subdivision, which extends to a foot-long tract along a parcel the city hoped to acquire. Mitchell and city staff apologized and assured Smith they would be back to her neighborhood to share information on the process ahead.

The next step for Peccia and the city is to continue negotiating acquisitions and apply for the state loan.

Reporter Seaborn Larson may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at slarson@dailyinterlake.com.