CINCINNATI – Construction of the Cincinnati Reds' new ballpark could be behind schedule before it even begins.

Bids for the concrete-and-steel superstructure are $22 million over the county's budget estimate.

"Right now, we're pursuing a number of options that we think will get us ready for opening day 2003," project manager Arnie Rosenberg said. "Obviously, we have to figure out where we are before we decide where to go."

The construction team met Tuesday with a representative of the concrete contractor – three companies that merged for the job. They will try to figure out why the concrete bid was $59.4 million when the estimate was $42 million.

Managers will go through a similar process with the two structural steel bids, the lowest of which came in at $33.6 million when $28.5 million was estimated.

All three bids had to be thrown out because they were more than 10 percent over Hamilton County's estimate.

The process will put the stadium about two months behind schedule, construction managers said. County officials plan to ask for bids on the concrete foundation beginning Dec. 9, and award a contract by year's end.

Hamilton County Administrator David Krings said the most the country will contribute to the project is $280 million. So even if here are overruns, public money won't be used to pay for them.

County residents approved a one-half cent sales tax increase to pay for new stadiums for the Reds and the Cincinnati Bengals, who shared Cinergy Field since it was built in 1970.

Paul Brown Stadium was completed this fall at a cost of $453 million – about $46 million over budget. The Reds will play at Cinergy Field until the new Great American Ball Park is ready.