Bids to remake the private parking lot at Langley Christian Missionary Alliance Church into a public park-and-ride have all come in higher than the city’s estimate to get the project finished.

Langley Public Works Director Challis Stringer said this week that an engineer’s estimate for the work totaled $381,618, but the lowest bid on the project, from Krieg Construction, was $472,706.

City officials hope to find another $115,000 in grant funding so the project can proceed.

Stringer said Krieg Construction has agreed to hold its bid until the end of November while the city seeks additional funding.

The park-and-ride lot drew fire from environmentalists late last year when environmentalists complained that the project included the removal of invasive blackberry bushes by a nearby creek. Opponents called it a “boondoggle” and raised concerns about increased noise and the glare of headlights from people parking in the lot.

The project has been in the works for more than seven years. Most of the costs of the parking lot makeover will be covered by federal funding.