DOT official: State likely to accept Sunset Beach bridge bid

WILMINGTON (AP) — A Department of Transportation engineer says the state is likely to accept the low bid to build a new Sunset Beach bridge even though it's higher than the state's estimate.

Bids were opened Tuesday. English Construction Co.'s low bid of almost $31 million is almost 11 percent higher than the state's estimate of almost $28 million.

Construction engineer Joe Blair says he expects the Transportation Board to award the contract when it meets next month. Blair says construction can begin Oct. 29 if the contract is awarded. Otherwise, he says the project will be re-advertised and then delayed two months.