Replacement of the Dog River water pipeline took a major step forward on Monday evening as The Dalles City Council voted to award a construction contract for the project to K&E Excavating. The bid was for over $5.89 million, well under the City’s estimated cost of $9.47 million. Mayor Rich Mays noted it has been a 12-year process for the City to get to this point, but now work is starting on the ground. The project is due to be finished by the end of next year.