The current project, which brought a low bid of just over $777,000, will encompass areas near N.C. 57 North, including the Old Salem Road area, according to Assistant City Manager Tommy Warren.

W.C. English Inc. of South Boston, Va. submittd the low bid for that portion of the project.

The W.C. English bid of $777,030 was well within the project budget estimate of $900,000 to $1 million, Warren said, adding that a total of seven bids were received ranging from the low bid from English to a high of over $2.1 million from Billings & Garrett.

“That’s the furthest spread I’ve ever seen on bids,” Warren said.

Warren advised council, however, that the “bid price does not include the cost for the replacement of the service connections. A unit cost for the service connections is included as a bid alternate, based upon the type of connection.”

Warren noted that the types of connections are dirt bores under the road and rock bores under the road. Even so, Warren said, the total price for the project, including the alternates should be under $900,000.

Council later approved funding for the project and triple tier lines still in need of replacement along Westover Drive and Anderbrock Drive.

Finance Director Jimmy Overton said the city had estimated the total cost for the projects at $1.8 million. The low loan bid for the projects, he added, was from RBC Centura with an interest rate of 3.44 percent, with 14 annual payments of $164,000 and a $5,000 origination fee. Total payments from the city over the course of the loan, Overton added, would be $2.3 million.