It’s called the most polluted river in North America, and it seemed all was set for Calexico officials to award a Phase-1 construction contract as part of a long-term effort to clean up along the New River corridor in Imperial County between Brawley and the border with Mexico.

But there was a slight hiccup: The lowest bid received for the “parkway” phase of the project exceeded the authorized budget by $700,000. The lowest bid received for the “parkway” phase of the project exceeded the authorized budget of $2 million by $700,000.

Now all the bids must be formally rejected and project specifications “retooled” in seeking new bids.

The Phase-1 Parkway project includes a ¾-mile bicycle path/pedestrian walkway, landscaping, electrical work, site prep, erosion control, and stormwater/water-quality improvements.

The changes required in the bid specifications to lower the bids have yet to be identified.

In subsequent phases, mitigating methods to deal with pollutants flowing into the southern end of the Salton Sea, such as known carcinogens and raw sewage, will be addressed and sent out for bid.