REHOBOTH BEACH (AP) — Rehoboth Beach commissioners have approved four bid awards to three contractors for construction of the city's ocean outfall wastewater project.

Construction is expected to begin this fall on the controversial outfall project, in which treated wastewater would be dumped into the Atlantic Ocean about a mile from Rehoboth's popular tourist beach.

Commissioners voted Monday to award bids totaling more than $37 million, with the ocean outfall bid awarded to Manson Construction of Seattle for $27.6 million.

The outfall plan, part of a $52.5 million wastewater system project, was developed in response to a court order for the city to stop discharging wastewater into the Lewes and Rehoboth Canal near the entrance to Rehoboth Bay.

Officials say the work is to be completed by April 30, 2018.