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The Columbia Board of Aldermen on April 6 awarded a contract to Central Builders Inc. of Rocky Mount for $1.35 million to upgrade the town’s sewer lines along North Road Street.

Cecil Madden Jr., the town’s professional engineer, presented three bids for the work. Second from lowest was Enviro-Tech Unlimited Construction Services of Nags Head at $1.61 million, and Ralph Hodge Construction Co. of Wilson at $1.65 million.

The award is subject to state approval.

The sewer line and manholes along North Road Street between Green and Martha streets are to be replaced, and a pumping station is to be constructed on Secota Village property to improve wastewater flow toward the treatment plant.

One-lane traffic in the work site will be necessary, said town manager Rhett White. He anticipates the contractor to be on site within 45 days, and the project should be concluded in “three or four months” after that.