WILMINGTON — There is a delay in some of the city’s 2017 street paving projects due to unfavorable bids, Safety/Service Director Brian Shidaker said during Thursday night’s council meeting.

“I was very disappointed. The easy thing to do would be to say yes and accept it as the lowest bid. But I just didn’t feel (we should be) accepting the lowest bid,” said Shidaker.

He said he felt the bid was higher than what they should be paying — by more than $200,000.

Shidaker said this would set back the street paving by three weeks, but it would save them money in the long run.

They will re-open bids in three weeks, and he believes it will be more competitive.

Shidaker also stated that the U.S. 68 project will begin Monday, Aug. 14 and completion date will Nov. 1.