Despite high bids, a project to convert the second of two historic Hot Metal bridges over the Monongahela River into a bike and pedestrian crossing is back on track.

The city's Urban Redevelopment Authority has secured an extra $2.2 million in federal money to help cover the cost of the project, whose low bid came in nearly $3 million over budget.

It also is expecting to pick up another $450,000 state grant.

Combined, the extra money should give the URA enough to move forward with the award of a $9.2 million contract to Brayman Construction of Saxonburg to begin the work.

"We're very anxious to get it started," said John Coyne, director of engineering and construction for the URA.

The URA board is expected to vote today on whether to accept the $2.2 million in federal funding and the $450,000 state grant. If the board approves the actions, the URA will award the contract to Brayman.

Mr. Coyne said the federal funding was available because the projects initially targeted to receive it weren't ready to move forward. The transfer has been approved by the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

The funds would have been lost to the region at the end of the year if they were not committed to another project, Mr. Coyne said.

Both the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission and PennDOT, he said, "came to the conclusion that it was justified to program additional money to complete such an important project."

Conversion of the second Hot Metal Bridge into a pedestrian and bike crossing is considered a key element of the city's efforts to create a unified trail system.

The bridge, which once carried molten iron between Jones & Laughlin steel mills in Hazelwood and the South Side, would connect the South Side portion of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail and the Eliza Furnace Trail to Downtown and Oakland.

The URA had budgeted $6.5 million for the conversion and expected bids to arrive at $6 million to $7 million. The five submitted ranged from $9.2 million to $11.9 million.

In reviewing the bids, the agency and its consultants determined the increase was justified because of rising fuel and construction costs. The URA said Allegheny County and PennDOT bids on bridge rehabilitation projects have been running 20 percent to 40 percent over estimates.

The URA hopes to begin construction in late August, with completion scheduled by the end of 2007.

The project would add a 14-foot-wide deck to the steel-truss bridge and two small platforms called belvederes for sightseers.