Two city projects in Richmond Hill are one step closer to completion after the City Council approved bids for a sidewalk project and culvert project during Tuesday’s regular meeting at City Hall.

The council approved a bid of $58,373.50 to Metter-based Preferred Site Construction to complete the sidewalks on Ivey Street near Richmond Hill and G.W. Carver Elementary schools.

According to City Manger Chris Lovell, the project could be complete in about 120 days. He expected no traffic interruptions during the project.

Ray Pittman with Thomas and Hutton, the city’s engineering firm, told the council Preferred Site Construction was the lowest of seven bids, which ranged from $58,373.50 to $91,525.

Also approved at the meeting was a bid of $237,538.50 from Vidalia-based McLendon Enterprises to install a box culvert for drainage on Sandpiper and Piercefield drives.

Pittman told the council they had received bids for both circular and box culvert drainage pipes, and the box culvert pipe was a more reliable product.

“When we first started looking at (the project), we thought the box culvert would be so expensive that it would not be doable,” Lovell said Thursday. “But when we got the bids in, it was not that much difference (between the circular culvert and box culvert), and the box culvert is much better for maintenance, drainage and longevity.”

McLendon Enterprises provided the lowest bid out of seven, Pittman told the council. The bids for box culverts ranged from $237,538.50 to $419,088.

Lovell said Thursday he expects the culvert project could be complete within 180 days. The culvert on Sandpiper Drive will replaced first, he said, to eliminate both roads being closed at the same time.

Also at the meeting:

• The council approved a request from the Richmond Hill Historical Society for funding for its 2013 operations in the amount of $9,500. Mayor Harold Fowler said this is the same amount the city gave the society last year.

• The council designated 6-9 p.m. Oct. 31 as the city’s official trick-or-treating hours for Halloween.