AIKEN - Phase II of the Palmetto Parkway is being scaled back, and its construction will be delayed.

The South Carolina Department of Transportation awarded a contract for the project to United Contractors last week. It was revamped and rebid after construction bids came in at almost $150 million, exceeding the construction budget by about $20 million.

"The scope was modified to get it within the available funding of $130 million," said G.M. "Skip" Grkovic, director of the North Augusta Economic & Community Development Department.

State Rep. Roland Smith, R-Langley, said the widening of U.S. Highway 25 has been eliminated from the project. In addition, Belvedere-Clearwater Road will be expanded to three lanes instead of five lanes.

The 6.5-mile portion of the parkway - the South Carolina portion of Interstate 520 - will link the first phase, which runs from Sand Bar Ferry Road in Augusta to U.S. Highway 1, with Interstate 20 near Exit 5 at U.S. 25.

The second phase of the project includes interchanges at four locations - U.S. 1, South Carolina Highway 125/Belvedere-Clearwater Road, U.S. 25 at Ascauga Lake Road and I-20.

The Belvedere-Clearwater Road interchange had been removed from the project, Mr. Smith said, but it was added back in after the legislative delegation and county council members lobbied the South Carolina Infrastructure Bank for more money.

The Infrastructure Bank kicked in an additional $30 million for the parkway last summer.

Mr. Grkovic said the rebidding process put the project six months to a year behind schedule.

Construction is to get under way in the spring and is scheduled for completion by 2010.