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CHARLESTON - The West Virginia Division of Highways will hold a bid award meeting at 11 a.m. June 24 to finalize the contract for renovation of the westbound tube of the Wheeling Tunnel.

Ahern and Associates of South Charleston became the apparent low bidder for the project Tuesday during bid openings at division headquarters in Charleston. Mike Skiles, WVDOH assistant director for contract administration, announced that Ahern and Associates submitted a bid of $6,764,850.

The Velotta Co. of Sharon Center, Ohio - the company awarded the eastbound project - came in second with a bid of $7,315,724.50. The Mosites Construction Co. of Pittsburgh came in third at $7,457,235.

Spokesman Brent Walker said division officials will review the documents and award the bid at next week's meeting.

"After we review the bid and award it, we will schedule a pre-construction conference to finalize plans," Walker aid. "I anticipate work to start within 30 days, possibly two weeks, after that."

The bid for the westbound tube is $1 million higher than the original bid of $5.7 million awarded to Velotta in 2006 for both tubes.

Walker said scheduling for the westbound tube calls for work to be suspended during the holiday season.

Velotta started the original tunnel project in January 2007 with work to be completed in two phases. The eastbound tube was to be done in 111 days, or by May 11, 2007. The westbound side was to take 107 days and be finished by May 16, 2008.

Problems developed soon after work began, and the eastbound project was not completed until Nov. 1, 2008. Division officials confirmed it had gone more than $1 million over budget.

In October 2007, WVDOH closed out its contract with Velotta and ordered the unfinished tube opened to traffic in time for the holiday season. The company returned to the eastbound tube on June 16, 2008, and pulled out on Oct. 31 after finishing its work.