McGee Construction of West Gardiner is the apparent low bidder for a contract to replace culverts on the Bog Road in Dresden, according to selectmen at a bid opening on Monday, Aug. 7.

Selectmen Alan Moeller Sr. said the board received four bids following the rejection of a single bid July 25. The McGee bid is $89,400. The others are Hagar Enterprises of Damariscotta, $110,000; Wayne Hickey Construction of West Gardiner, $101,444; and Ray Labbe and Sons of Brunswick, $114,970.

Moeller said the board will review all the bids to determine if the specifications are met. “We want to make sure they are on the same playing field,” said Moeller. He said the companies will be notified of the board’s decision by Thursday, Aug. 10.

Moeller said selectmen are still waiting for the project’s final written site approval from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. “We expect that by the end of the week,” he said.

The work is subject to obstacles including the need to keep the road open for buses once school starts, he said. Environmental concerns mean the work must be completed by Nov. 1, Moeller said. He said a problem could arise in obtaining the metal culvert pipe before the seasonal construction deadline. He said there are only two companies available to fabricate and deliver the pipe in time to complete the project this year.

He said if the project is put off, the winning bidder’s contract will be honored into next year. Moeller said the $84,000 DEP grant will be available in 2018 if the project is delayed.