SOUTHSIDE COMPANY IS SCHOOL'S LOW BIDDER

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, February 16, 1993                   TAG: 9302160119
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-5   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: GREG EDWARDS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                LENGTH: Short
SOUTHSIDE COMPANY IS SCHOOL'S LOW BIDDER
Kenbridge Construction Co. is the low bidder for the contract to build the new Blacksburg Elementary School.
The Southside Virginia company bid $4,574,000 for the contract. Bids were opened Feb. 10.
The new school will be next to the Food Lion on Prices Fork Road.
The company was one of four that turned in bids under the county's $4.6 million estimate for construction.
The architect is reviewing the bids and a recommendation will be made to the School Board on the awarding of the construction contract at the board's March 2 meeting.
If the contract is awarded that night, construction could get under way by mid-April and the county could meet its September 1994 target date for opening the school, Assistant Superintendent John Martin said.
The school will be built according to the same plans as the new Falling Branch Elementary School in Christiansburg which opened last fall.
It will, however, have a larger gymnasium with bleachers and dressing rooms, which will be paid for by Blacksburg and used for the town's recreation programs.
Other bidders included: Thor Inc. of Roanoke, $4,575,000; Burwill Construction Co. of Bristol, $4,580,000; Lionberger Construction Co. of Roanoke, $4,585,000; Branch Associates of Roanoke, $4,612,000; John S. Clark Co. of Mount. Airy, N.C., $4,660,000; and Avis Construction Co. of Roanoke, $4,761,000.
The Mount Airy company built the Falling Branch School.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB