| By Neil Johnson, reporter/anchor, Big Radio |

Bids for construction of the planned Woodman’s Sports and Convention Center are in.

The city of Janesville announces Janesville builder JP Cullen has entered the low bid for the project — submitting a base bid that’s just over $38 million.

The city says that’s below a proposed cap of $50 million for the project. The bids include alternate construction materials, but don’t include so-called “soft costs” for furniture and other items related to finishing the project.

It appears JP Cullen’s low bid would meet cost requirements by coming in well under the $50-million cap, although the city says it must crosscheck all the bid documents for accuracy and completeness.

Bids went out last month. The Janesville City Council is slated to consider awarding the bid January 22, which would green-light the project.

City officials say if the project gets the go-ahead, demolition could start in February at the former Sears building at the Uptown Janesville mall — the footprint where the Woodman’s Center would be built. The Woodman’s Center, an ice arena and multi-sport center, could be up and running by late summer 2025.

Big Radio will update this story as more information becomes available.