Bids for the Port Authority's 1.2-mile light-rail extension from Downtown to the North Shore has come in over budget.

Wellington Power Corp., of Pittsburgh, sumitted an apparent low bid of $82.3 million to supply and install the tracks, overhead power system, signals, communications equipment and related operating and safety systems.

Authority officials said the bid exceeded engineering estimates but they would not disclose the extent.

Operations Manager Winston Simmonds said the bid will be reviewed to determine if the amount can be lowered by changes, such as substituting concrete sidewalks for steel sidewalks inside twin tunnels under the Allegheny River. The other option is to rebid the contract.

The next and only other bid that was submitted amounted to $96.9 million. A third company expected to compete for the job dropped out about a week before bid documents were due.