The price tag for extension of sewer and water lines to the new Ivy Tech Community College campus has come in at $514,996, half the original estimate.

The cost, originally expected to total $1.1 million, is to be covered largely by Elkhart County, though Ivy Tech will pitch in $100,000. County commissioners on Monday opened the bids for the work, accepting the $514,996 proposal put forth by C and E Excavating of Elkhart, the lowest of six submitted.

Ivy Tech is building a new $20 million campus for Elkhart County off C.R. 18 and Old C.R. 17 east of Elkhart. To assist, county officials offered to cover the cost of extending city of Elkhart water and sewer lines to the site.