VIDALIA &045;&045; Vidalia is one step closer to getting a new welcome center.

The Vidalia Board of Aldermen opened construction bids on the Gateway and Welcome Center in a special meeting Tuesday. The center, which will be on the Vidalia Riverfront near the Mississippi River bridge, will serve as a place for visitors to get information about Vidalia and a facility for conventions.

Vidalia Mayor Hyram Copeland said the board would likely accept a bid next week, providing it met all the proper requirements.

&uot;We have to go to the low bidder, and so far they’ve met all the requirements,&uot; Copeland said.

Bidders included:

4Don M. Barron Contractor Inc. of Farmerville, La., which bid $4,000,500 with alternate bids of $54,000, $237,500 and $89,000.

4Nottingham Construction Inc., which bid $4,102,000, with alternate bids of $69,000, $286,000 and $68,000.

4Traxler Construction Inc., which bid $4,479,000, with alternate bids of $124,000, $247,000 and $95,000.

Copeland said the bids were within the range the board had wanted, unlike the previous bid process in which all bids were higher than expected.

All three companies had submitted bids the first time Vidalia opened the process in March. The board decided to readvertise after those bids all came in at more than $5 million.

Aldermen also changed some of the plans for the center, including delaying some aspects of the construction.

Copeland said the board is seeking other funding for those parts of the project, including more money from state capital outlay funds and federal grants.

If the bid is awarded next week, Copeland said construction could start as soon as September.

&uot;Hopefully within 30 days we’ll start construction,&uot; Copeland said. &uot;After that it will be about a 12-month time frame to finish it.&uot;