Bicycling enthusiasts will soon see more support from the city.

The Simi Valley City Council recently approved a contractor’s bid to install bike lanes and signs along a 14-mile lateral stretch of Simi Valley.

Traffic striping and bicycle signs will be added to Kuehner Drive, Los Angeles and Sequoia avenues, Fitzgerald Road, First Street, Long Canyon Road, Wood Ranch Parkway, Country Club Drive and Madera Road.

Where the pavement isn’t wide enough for a bicycle lane, only a sign will be posted.

The project was expected to cost $420,000. However, Sterndahl Enterprises of Sun Valley entered the sole bid—$176,373. The company was awarded the contract in February, and work is expected to begin this month.

Ron Fuchiwaki, assistant director of public works, said city staff determined the project would cost the higher amount based on “a worst-case scenario,” if construction, such as widening lanes, was needed. But that wasn’t the case.

The city received a $378,000 state grant for the project and added $42,000 in matching funds—a grant requirement.

Fuchiwaki hopes the state will let the city keep the extra money for related projects, something it allowed before.

“We’ll come up with another bike project,” he said.

It’s hoped that the new lanes will alert drivers to the presence of bicyclists. A Simi Valley man was killed in August when his bicycle was hit by a vehicle driving along Long Canyon Road, one of the streets slated to get a bike lane.

City Councilmember Steve Sojka served on the city’s bike master plan committee. “I think it’s a great sport that we should support in our community,” said Sojka, who often takes

weekend bicycle rides with his family.