In early July, Madden Phillips Construction will begin widening Houston Levee Road in north Collierville with a project that will cost the town more than $4.2 million.

The price is a bargain by today's standards, but it could have been about $15,000 less.

The slightly higher cost is the result of a unanimous decision by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen on May 27 not to choose the lowest bidder - White Contracting.

Until the board's 5-0 vote, White Contracting appeared to have the contract in the bag. Town staff earlier in May recommended that the board choose the company as the lowest bidder.