A long-awaited expansion of Denton’s South Branch Library moved closer to reality Tuesday.

The City Council approved a construction contract for the project, which will nearly double the branch’s size.

It will also add 44 parking spaces, a conference room and more space for storage, public computers and staff work areas.

Construction is expected to take a year.

The library should remain open during normal hours for most of that time, said Eva Poole, libraries director.

The total project, including furnishings, is expected to cost about $2.65 million.

A 2005 bond package included $2.1 million for the project, and the council on Tuesday earmarked another $550,000 in certificates of obligation.

Poole said last summer that the project might be scaled back because of higher-than-expected construction costs. But the extra funding will allow the full project to move forward, she said.

The project will increase the library to the size officials originally intended.

The branch, at 3228 Teasley Lane, was built in 1995, but the city ran out of funds to finish a planned 20,000-square-foot facility, officials have said.

The expanded library will be 20,713 square feet with a 95-space parking lot.

The $1.79 million construction job went to Lewisville-based J.C. Commercial Inc., which submitted the lowest bid of seven vendors.

LOWELL BROWN can be reached at 940-566-6882. His e-mail address is lmbrown@dentonrc.com.