Hikers and bikers of Broadneck have something to be excited about.

Construction for a new bike trail along College Parkway will begin this summer, and the goal is to create a path that connects from Cape St. Claire all the way to the Baltimore and Annapolis Trail.

Ken Alban, the capital projects manager for the county’s Recreations and Parks Department, said this project has been in the works since 2000.

“The ultimate goal is to make a connection to Route 2, and if we could get across Route 2, the B&A Trail in some fashion,” Alban said. “But that’s way down the road. This part has been in the books for a while and it’s exciting to finally see some funding flow into it.”

A contract for the construction of Phase 1 of the project was recently recommended to Peak Inc. for $944,200, with work set to begin in late summer, according to documents with the county Department of Public Works.

Phase 1 includes the construction of a trail along College Parkway from Green Holly Drive to Cape St. Claire Road.

Other details of the plan, according to specifications listed on the bid document:

• A 10-foot wide, paved trail along College Parkway, from Green Holly Drive to East College Parkway.
• A series of 8-foot wide paved spurs to Broadneck Library and Cape St. Claire Road to Walnut Ridge Drive.
• Crosswalks.
• Ramps.
• Curbing.
• Signal modifications.
• Signage and markings.
• Curb walls with hand rails.
• Fencing.
• Guardrails.

The cost range for the project was set at $1 million to $1.5 million. Ten bids were received, ranging from $885,000 to $1.4 million.

Peak Inc. came in as the second-lowest bid. The lowest bidder was disqualified for failure to provide bid security, according to documents with the county Department of Public Works.

The plan is for the completed trail to connect with the East Coast Greenway, a network of trails from surrounding states that connect to form a continuous path through scenic areas along the East Coast of the United States, from Maine to Florida.

“But that’s really way out there,” Alban said. “We’re trying to do our part for Anne Arundel County, and other states are doing their own parts.”