Sound Transit got just one bid this week to build what it thought would be a $51.8 million light rail station at Sea-Tac Airport -- $95.3 million, 83 percent higher than estimated.

Mowat Construction was the only bidder to build the station. Work was planned to start in August and finish by July 2009, leaving time for testing before December of that year.

That would complete the entire 16-mile system from downtown Seattle to the airport. But the significantly higher bid could mean cutting back some part of the station to save cost, Sound Transit officials said Wednesday.

"It's a big difference and definitely was disappointing," said Ron Lewis, Sound Transit's deputy light rail director. "Going back to having a single bid on the project, that's rarely a comfortable position to be in going into it and certainly didn't pan out for us this time."

Spokesman Bruce Gray said the agency had planned on spending up to $60 million for the station. Plans include two bridges spanning International Boulevard and connecting to the parking garage, a pedestrian plaza, weather-protective enclosures, restrooms and public art.